Data Scientist

JOB SUMMARY

Located in the nation’s capital, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is the chief legal office of the District of Columbia. OAG enforces the laws of the District, defends, and provides legal advice to the District’s government agencies and protects the interests of the District’s residents. This position is located within the Immediate Office.

The Immediate Office sets the direction for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG). It is responsible for establishing the policy priorities that the organization pursues and ensuring that the OAG consistently provides high-quality legal services to the District agencies the OAG supports.

The position will place particular emphasis on juvenile and criminal justice: using agency data to evaluate the effectiveness of the office’s criminal and juvenile justice work; looking at data from the juvenile justice, abuse and neglect, and child support systems to inform the work the office does with vulnerable youth; and making appropriate aggregate public safety data available to the public in line with open and transparent government.

The Data Scientist will support OAG's efforts to use data and analytics to evaluate programs, improve operations, enhance transparency, and inform policy and strategic decision-making. The incumbent will work collaboratively with attorneys, investigators, analysts, and agency leadership to develop data-driven insights and analytical products.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Data Scientist will be responsible for developing computational algorithms and statistical methods to find patterns and relationships in multiple database sources. The incumbent will develop scripts, queries, or software code to accomplish specific requirements or tasks. They will design, build, and test data models, algorithms, and predictive models.

The incumbent will identify and utilize predictive modeling and machine learning techniques to improve program and operational processes and agency’s overall data quality. The incumbent will manipulate, manage queries, analyze, and summarize data from open-source, law enforcement, District, and OAG data sources into cohesive reports supporting strategic initiatives, program evaluations, and investigations.

Additionally, the incumbent will be required to:

• Collaborate with internal partners to evaluate the effectiveness of juvenile and criminal justice initiatives within OAG.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to expand accessible prosecution data platforms.
• Contribute to interagency data efforts, including those sponsored by the Office of the Chief Technology Officer and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
• Consult on statistical and research matters relevant to OAG’s work.
• Compile and perform analyses on a variety of datasets from various sources to provide informed and data-driven insights leading to process and operational recommendations for OAG and its stakeholders.
• Develop correlations, models, algorithms, forecasts, and visualizations based on generally accepted statistical methods using data from both OAG systems and external sources.
• Apply computational and machine learning methods to new or big data sets to identify new insights using analytical tools, including spreadsheets, databases, programming languages, and/or statistical or visualization software.
• Initiate and respond to requests for specialized and/or customized reports, including complex queries involving multiple data sources and analyzing data in creative and innovative ways.
• Use coding skills and knowledge with languages such as python or R and uses SQL and other data processing and analytics tools and software to analyze data sets and uses data visualization tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, Microsoft Excel, and others to generate reports and develop compelling stories that convey statistical or technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Provide scientific, statistical, and technical consultation about the best applicable practices and new techniques. Researches and develops complex and detailed statistical analysis and modeling on a variety of data, including trends, projections, and supporting information, using analytical software and products; produces effective reports and presentations.
• Train staff on clean data collection, entry, and storage.
• Write or contribute to white papers and other reports for public consumption.
• Assist with collaborative projects involving external stakeholders, research organizations, and academic institutions when appropriate.
• Participate in relevant academic and professional conferences; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

AND EDUCATION

At a minimum, candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in statistics, economics, data analytics, computer science, public policy, mathematics, or a related field and demonstrated experience in data analysis, statistical methods, and data visualization. Advanced degrees are preferred but not required.

The ideal candidate will also have the following qualifications/skills:

• Expertise with common statistical analytical tools such as Tableau and Power BI.
• Skill with common programming languages, data visualization software and mapping tools such as R and Python and in database languages such as SQL.
• Experience evaluating program effectiveness and using data for continuous program learning.
• Experience working with data scientists and technical staff to create and support business intelligence or other technology programs.
• Significant project management experience, from the inception and design phase through to full implementation.
• Willingness to tackle data collection and management challenges with an eye toward moving the agency to best practices
• Curiosity and interest in public policy and public interest work, particularly in the criminal justice realm.
• Excellent communication skills, including with people who do not have an analytics background.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment.
• A desire to design and launch new initiatives.
• Experience working with lawyers, law offices, and/or in District of Columbia public policy is a plus.

OR

Combination of education and experience: Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

[[JD_HEADING:LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

None

WORKING CONDITIONS/ENVIRONMENT]]

Work is normally performed in an office environment.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTS

Tour of Duty: Monday – Friday; 8:45 am – 5:15 pm

Duration of Appointment: Career Service (CS) Regular

Promotion Potential: No known promotion potential

Plan, Series, Grade: CS-1560-13

Salary: The annual salary is negotiable up to $110,967 and will be based on applicants’ qualifications and availability of funds for this position.

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union)

This position is not covered under a collecting bargaining agreement.

POSITION DESIGNATION

In accordance with Chapter 4 of the D.C. personnel regulations, Suitability, this position has been deemed Security-Sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, and drug screenings, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of their tenure.

RESIDENCY PREFERENCE

Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to have maintained residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

In accordance with the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq.

(Act), the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, source of income, or place of residence or business.

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination that is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated.

Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

OFFICIAL JOB OFFERS ARE TO BE MADE ONLY BY THE HUMAN RESOURCES SECTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL