A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Managing Director’s Office (MDO) is responsible for overseeing the City of Philadelphia’s daily operations and delivering efficient, effective, and responsive public services in every neighborhood in Philadelphia. The MDO is a cabinet-level office with oversight of the City’s operating departments. The MDO works with operating departments to (for additional information go to: https://www.phila.gov/departments/managing-directors-office/)

1. Create and successfully enact new policies
2. Deliver efficient, effective, and responsive public services
3. Implement the mayor’s vision

The Office of Integrated Data for Evidence and Action (IDEA) sits within the MDO and is responsible for developing and maintain the City’s integrated data system (IDS). The integrated data system brings together, links, and securely stores data from across City agencies to inform the delivery of services to Philadelphians. Agencies use this information for analytics, research, case coordination, development, and direct client outreach to benefit City clients. In order to manage the IDS, IDEA has built a team with a broad range of skills including database administration, data querying, data use/visualization, and research methods. We seek individuals with both the required skills and a commitment to using data to better serve the people of Philadelphia.

The goal of the integrated data system is to bring together in one place the capacity to answer questions about the efficacy of the programs used to support citizens. Sharing data across systems holds out promise beyond what can be learned from any one data system. The integration of administrative data systems provides potentially even more compelling information on patterns of multi-system program use, costs, and outcomes.

The IDS is utilized by the City of Philadelphia (the “City”) to coordinate client services to improve safety, health, and well-being outcomes of clients and their families. The role of the IDEA technical team is to maintain the source feeds, maintain the existing data warehouse, and ensure the integrity of the data as well as high data availability.

IDEA operates and maintains the IDS, which receives and integrates individual data from 12 unique source databases across HHS, the Office of Children and Families (OCF), and criminal justice agencies.

The Director for Research, Analytics & Evaluation leads IDEA’s business team whose function is to help City leaders convert raw data into information to support government policy and practice, particularly for cross-departmental applications. This individual must be able to conceptualize analytic projects from beginning to end, then generate the appropriate results using statistical software requiring complex coding and/or geospatial tools. In addition to supporting individual projects, this individual will support the infrastructure of the integrated data system through data governance activities, documentation, partnership development, and expansion of data holdings. We are looking for a detail-oriented leader with a passion for data-driven decision making and improving city government. This position requires advanced knowledge of research methods, statistics, and ArcGIS software across a broad range of social service applications.

Essential Functions

• Conceptualize uses cases for integrated data in coordination with city and department leadership to support planning, policy development, and program implementation.
• Lead projects and teams to integrate, transform, and transfer data sets or create tools for use by internal and external partners.
• Work with key stakeholders to design, implement, and analyze policy and program evaluations, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-experimental analyses, and other methodologies as appropriate.
• Advance MDO agencies’ use of methodological, open science, and human-centered design best practices in work products.
• Provide technical assistance to department staff and the IDEA technical team to organize data, build data models, and generate reports; review data analysis code drafted by colleagues.
• Oversee the implementation of spatial analyses and development of high-quality cartographic products.
• Update, implement, and maintain procedures for replicating analytic products.
• Process confidential information in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations
• Coordinate with IDEA and department staff to implement data quality improvement strategies.
• Participate in meetings and events with the citywide research, data, and GIS communities.
• Support City agencies in building their data collection capacity in order to strengthen evaluation efforts.
• With leadership, identify opportunities for data expansion and facilitate the onboarding of new sources.
• Present on the value of integrated data, the capabilities of IDEA, and outcomes of integrated data projects to diverse audiences
• Write summaries of projects and for technical and non-technical audiences
• Supervise and provide mentorship to the members of IDEA’s business team.
• Support IDEA’s Executive Director; duties will include:

• Develop and maintain relationships with department leadership, external partners, funders, and academic institutions.
• Create annual plan identifying core goals, objectives and deliverables for the IDEA.
• Maintain compliance with data privacy requirements.
• Develop and monitor IDEA performance and project plans.
• Support implementation of data governance requirements.

Competencies

• Rigorous: Driven by thoughtful, quality, and detail-oriented processes, project output, and client/team interactions.
• Organized: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, estimate timelines, rework a project approach based on unforeseen challenges, work well under pressure, and set/meet reasonable deadlines.
• Protective: Values protecting clients’ private information, understands relevant privacy laws, and the has ability to faithfully implement related security policies.
• Excellent communicator: Ability to explain technical concepts to general audiences, explain the logic behind research decisions, craft compelling narratives about data, write and speak clearly, and cultivate effective communication among team members.
• Relationship-builder: Ability to work with a variety of people and personalities, listen and ask questions to identify new inquiry opportunities, and cultivate strong relationships to ensure seamless collaboration and continued project support.
• Curious: Ability to practice active listening, ask questions to get at the root of a problem, be open to receiving/giving constructive feedback, and have a sincere interest in learning new skills or growing old ones.
• Action-oriented: Ability to see opportunities, navigate barriers, be self-directed, and problem-solve solutions that enhance the City’s deliverables, processes, and practices.
• Resilient: Ability to have a sense of humor, learn from mistakes, and/or return to work after experiencing a setback.
• Amplifier: Ability to amplify others’ strengths and successes and operate beyond ego and self-interest.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Highly proficient in applied quantitative research design/methods, program evaluation & advanced statistics.
• Proficiency with at least one statistical programming language, such as R (strongly preferred), Python, SAS, STATA, etc.
• Experience developing data visualizations consistent with the principles of inclusive design.
• Experience working with large, relational datasets.
• Experience in data management and cleaning best practices.
• Experience supervising a team and supporting others to do their best work.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, particularly projects that require collaboration across different groups or teams.
• Prior experience in social services (government or non-profit) preferred.
• Proficiency in geospatial visualization and analysis (maps, dashboards, etc.) using ESRI’s ArcPro and/or ArcOnline software preferred.

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days, however the position can opt to come in the office each day if desired.

• Prior experience in social services (government or non-profit) preferred.

• Education: A PhD from an accredited college or university, preferably in public policy, psychology, sociology, political science, statistics, economics, mathematics, urban planning, or another field of relevance to local government.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.

Salary Range: $95,000 - $110,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx