Vision Zero Research Scientist

Transportation Planning and Management (TPM) is responsible for the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods on the City's streets, supporting the larger goals of economic and social vitality for people living, working and doing business in New York City. The Division's responsibilities include planning, street design, technical analysis, signs, transit development, freight mobility and markings, ensuring the safety of motor vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and cyclists. Research Implementation and Safety (RIS) is a team dedicated to improving road safety and eliminating fatalities and serious injuries throughout New York City. RIS implements road safety street redesigns and programs, is responsible for the management of DOT's crash data, conducts large-scale safety research projects, and leads on many agency action plans as the key agency group for Vision Zero, NYC's comprehensive approach to improving safety for all road users. RIS identifies, plans and implements annual street improvement projects and programs throughout New York City, all focused on improving safety, through programs such as Vision Zero, Safe Streets for Seniors, High Pedestrian Crash Locations, and Neighborhood Slow Zones.

RIS seeks to hire two driven Vision Zero Research Scientist to join the Data Operations, Systems, and Analytics unit. The team incorporates data engineering, data management, data analysis, and data solutions into a single group. We are the data specialists that ensure accuracy and efficiency for data analytics, data products, and insights that the agency relies on to accomplish its data driven mission. The successful candidate will develop data management systems, produce data products for operational units, analyze data and help develop research studies to inform policy for the City's Vision Zero initiative, a multi-agency effort to reduce traffic fatalities and severe injuries in NYC.

These candidates will plan and perform research and analysis studies related to transportation safety efforts that will inform current and future policy, planning, and programs. The candidates will conduct data mining and analysis exercises, maintain vital databases, build predictive machine learning models, and contribute to ongoing data analysis efforts to inform Vision Zero policy and planning. The position will have significant guidance, but will be expected to supervise staff in conducting research and presenting data outputs to technical and non-technical audiences. The candidates will have the opportunity to develop methods and build on her/his current technical knowledge base in order to arrive at data-forward conclusions. The candidates will be asked to work collaboratively and inclusively, seeking to cultivate continued professional development and effectively communicate with all stakeholders. This role will be part of a dynamic team of data analysts and researchers that are responsible for informing the data driven inputs of Vision Zero and the general work of the Transportation Planning and Management division of NYC DOT.

The candidate should be proficient in SQL, with PostGIS experience preferable, and have intermediate Python and GIS skills. Possession of advanced statistical analysis abilities and data visualization skills is also preferable. Candidate should have proven experience working with large diverse datasets. Interest in the Vision Zero transportation safety goals, as well as technical ability will be sought out and tested.

1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health.
To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have:
1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or
2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above.

NOTE:
Probationary Period
Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.