Sr. Data and Policy Analyst

Job Description

Job Description

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State.

This position is with HCR's Housing Trust Fund Corporation (HTFC). This is not a civil service position and does not require a civil service exam. Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications outlined below to be considered. 

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. HCR is committed to developing a workforce that represents the diverse population of New York State. HCR embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Office of Research and Strategic Analysis (ORSA) provides crosscutting support to HCR’s executive and program leadership in advancing the agency’s mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing, and increase homeownership in New York State. Created in late 2017, the ORSA team consists of data scientists, analysts and policy specialists who, using quantitative and analytical research methods and strategies, provide data-driven guidance on high-priority initiatives and answer questions that are critical to the success of the agency and component programs and offices.

Job Summary

Reporting to the ORSA Director, the Senior Data and Policy Analyst, Office of Research and Strategic Analysis is responsible for ensuring that proprietary, programmatic, and publicly available data is consistently, imaginatively, and effectively used to drive decision-making throughout the agency. Their role is to make value out of data – bring a strategic eye to aid operational performance. They are accountable for supporting management in developing ad hoc and ongoing analyses that are accurate and timely. They will have a primary focus on applying data management techniques and analyses to the agency’s Housing Plan reporting systems integrated with the agency’s workflow and needs. They will be central to helping the executive leadership effectively utilize and integrate data to drive program quality and understand Housing Plan production. They will also manage analysts (including interns) while coordinating with outside researchers and other stakeholders to build a body of knowledge about the impacts of HCR’s programs and funding on New York State residents and communities. They will be a central coordinator for the public presentation of data about housing and community renewal efforts statewide.

Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Support programs and the overall organization in addressing various ad hoc policy and ongoing data questions.
• Data Quality Assurance.
• Methodology development and documentation.
• Reporting functions for federal and state requirements.
• Providing policy frameworks and quantitative scenario analysis.

• Enhancing data collection procedures to include information that is relevant for building analytic systems.
• Processing, cleaning, and verifying the integrity of data used for analysis.
• Doing ad-hoc analysis and presenting results in a clear manner.
• Aid in managing a team of analysts in the development and maintenance of ad hoc and long-term data analysis to support program operations.
• Coordinate with the Policy Office, Public Information Office, executive leadership and programmatic leaders and staff in the presentation of data internally, to stakeholders, and to the public.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of relevant experience.
• Substitutions: four years of specialized experience or associate degree and two years of specialized experience may substitute for bachelor’s degree; J.D. or master’s degree may substitute for one year of specialized experience; Ph.D. may substitute for two years of specialized experience.  
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research designs and statistical analysis techniques. They should show proficiency/familiarity with statistical tools that allows them to sufficiently manage detailed research topics.
• Excellent oral, written, and communication skills.
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to quickly and clearly synthesize information while showing an exceptional ability to use data to make decisions.
• Experience with statistical or data science packages such as STATA, SAS, or R and geospatial tools such as ArcGIS.

• Familiarity/proficiency using query languages (e.g. SQL) is a plus.
• Ability to work in a flexible, fast paced, mission driven environment.

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive and employee will be expected to perform other reasonably related duties as assigned.

WHAT WE OFFER AT NYS HCR:

• Extensive benefits package including participation in New York State’s Health Insurance Program and New York State & Local Employees’ Retirement System.
• Promotional opportunities for dedicated professionals.
• Work-life balance benefits including a 37.5-hour work week, opportunity for compressed scheduling, and paid time off benefits (vacation, sick, personal days, and federal holidays).
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.
• Paid Family Leave.
• As a New York State employee, you may qualify to participate in the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under an accepted repayment plan and while working full-time for an eligible employer. 

ABOUT NEW YORK STATE HOMES AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL:

Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, HCR is a vibrant, innovative agency that integrates and leverages New York State’s housing resources. We have offices in New York City, Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse, and employ a diverse workforce of professionals who are hard-working and committed to serving low- and moderate-income families. Our mission is far-reaching, encompassing single and multifamily housing finance, home improvement, rent regulation, housing subsidies, and community development. We partner regularly with a variety of public and private stakeholders.

Achieving this mission requires a wide range of skills and backgrounds in public policy, administration, real estate, construction, finance, law, and many other areas of expertise. We seek to provide a workplace environment that is productive, flexible, accountable, ethical, and caring. Our employees are empowered to make a difference where they live and work. We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package, including paid leave, health, dental, vision, retirement, and family-friendly policies.

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE)