Position Description: The Data Analyst will coordinate data gathering and analysis processes using basic statistical methods and statistical analysis software. Working with multidisciplinary project teams and under the supervision of senior data staff, he or she will also analyze, visualize, and present data for Furman Center publications and online tools. In particular, the Data Analyst will generate and maintain indicators used in the annual State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods report and assist in managing the report’s production schedule. The Data Analyst will be exposed to a diverse range of urban and housing policy issues, and will develop a working expertise in a similarly wide range of indicators, data sources, and tools.
This position will last for one year with potential for extension.
Responsibilities
Data management and programming (25%). Manage and develop the Furman Center’s data repository by maintaining data subscriptions and updates; writing scripts, primarily in SAS, to process data and calculate indicators using basic statistical and analytic techniques; updating and maintaining technical documentation; and enforcing data integrity and security standards.
Report management and preparation (35%). Prepare tables, graphs, maps, other visualizations, and methodologies for the State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods report. Assist with the management of report production, including timeline, deliverables, quality control, and staffing. For other research projects, assemble and analyze data.
Data tool development (25%). To support senior data staff, develop processes for data to be used in the center’s redesigned web-based data tools, including the Subsidized Housing Information Project, Neighborhood Info, and the Quarterly Housing Update.
Data requests (5%). Fulfill ad hoc data, training, and technical assistance requests from a wide range of external audiences, including academics and organizations from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
General technical support and administration (10%). Support the technical needs of the Furman Center, including serving as liaison to the NYU School of Law IT Services, and performing basic hardware and software maintenance. Along with senior data staff, supervise and support quantitative research assistants in analysis tasks and their professional development.
Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in statistics, economics, public policy, urban planning, the social sciences, computer science, or a related field, plus strong quantitative data analysis skills. Candidate must demonstrate solid mathematical ability, analytic thinking, knowledge of social science research methods, and effective oral and written communication of quantitative findings and methods. Experience writing programs or scripts in at least one statistical or mathematical package (e.g., SAS, Stata, R, MATLAB, SciPy/NumPy, Pandas) or computer programming language (e.g., Python, C++, Ruby) is required; expertise in SAS is preferred. Facility with Microsoft Office is required.
Must have excellent attention to detail; ability to multitask and respond to shifting priorities; comfort working both independently and collaboratively; and strong organizational, analytical, and project management skills. We are looking for a team player with a good sense of humor, a love of numbers, and a curiosity about the world.
Preferred Qualifications: Prior quantitative research experience—including internships, research assistantships, or faculty-supervised independent research, such as a thesis—is strongly preferred. The strongest candidates will demonstrate mastery of long-term project management, particularly for research projects with quantitative and qualitative components, and should have guided direct reports and peers in data analysis tasks. Additional technical experience in relational databases (SQL) and geospatial data management and analysis (Esri ArcGIS) is a plus. The ideal candidate should have an avid interest in understanding cities, public policy, and housing, and sharing what they learn with others.
How to apply
To Apply: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, three references, and a sample of work (code and final product). Application materials and questions should be sent to furmanjobs@nyu.edu. Please include “Data Analyst Position” in the subject line. Review of applications will begin immediately. Only candidates of interest will be contacted.
New York University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.