Technologist

The NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) protects and enhances the daily economic lives of New Yorkers to create thriving communities. DCWP licenses nearly 45,000 businesses in more than 40 industries and enforces key consumer protection and workplace laws that apply to countless more. By supporting businesses through equitable enforcement and access to resources, DCWP protects the marketplace from predatory practices and strives to create a culture of compliance.

DCWP empowers consumers and working families by providing the tools and resources they need to achieve financial health and work-life balance. DCWP also conducts research and advocates for public policy that furthers its work to support New York City’s communities. For more information about DCWP and its work, call 311 or visit DCWP at NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), sign up for its newsletter, or follow on its social media sites, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

The Research and Analytics Division (“RAD”) performs economic analysis in support of the agency’s policy work, produces public-facing research products, provides data science and technologist support in investigations, analyzes agency operations, and fulfills all agency external reporting functions. RAD is seeking a Technologist to play a key role in the enforcement of DCWP’s consumer and worker protection laws. The Technologist will work closely with DCWP investigators and attorneys to develop and implement strategies for the discovery, collection, and analysis of business data and technical documentation relating to compliance with city worker and consumer protection laws. The Technologist will help collect and use this information to identify violations, assess the validity of claims by businesses, workers, and consumers, calculate relief and civil penalties, and guide investigators and attorneys in the collection of testimonial evidence and other documentation. The Technologist will also design and implement automated systems to standardize data collection and analysis, and advise the agency on technology regulation. DCWP has built a reputation as a leader in the use of research and analytics within its field, and the successful applicant will be joining a growing team of data scientists, technologists, researchers, and economists to further develop this aspect of the agency’s work.

Responsibilities include:

• Working with investigators and attorneys to identify the data and technical documentation necessary to evaluate compliance with NYC worker and consumer protection laws; • Communicating with businesses’ counsel and technical staff to ensure delivery of responsive data and documentation; • Developing and using appropriate data analysis tools to describe business practices, identify key witnesses, and calculate damages; • Assessing how DCWP uses data and insight into business technologies in its investigations and litigation and recommending and implementing improvements; • Advising agency leadership in technology regulation, and on other policy areas where expertise in business use of information technology is relevant; • Conducting research and drafting reports on emerging technologies and their implications for consumer and worker protection; and • Developing technological tools, guidance, and training, to assist investigators and attorneys in gathering documentary and testimonial evidence from consumers and workers. To be considered, please provide a cover letter describing why you are interested in the position and what you would contribute to the team. Include the Job ID for the posting in the header of your letter.

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.

• Advanced use of programming, scripting, and statistical languages (e.g., Python, R, Stata), relational databases (e.g., advanced SQL queries), and automation engineering;

• Ability to interpret source code and technical documentation concerning information technology products, and provide insight into how information technology is developed and used within modern businesses.

• Excellent analytic thinking skills, especially the ability to map between legal and regulatory concepts and corresponding data structures and processes;

• Excellent strategic thinking skills, especially the ability to tailor analytic approaches to the needs of specific cases;

• Comfort with sampling methodologies, extrapolation, and statistical inference;

• High level of organization, including ability to ensure findings are reproducible and analytical choices are transparent and well-supported;

• Experience handling multiple assignments with competing deadlines, where each requires a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail;

• Excellent writing, reading comprehension, and interpersonal communication skills;

• Ability to occasionally work flexible hours, including nights and weekends; and

• Multilingual a plus.

In addition, the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) offers competitive salaries and the following benefits:

Paid Time Off and Holidays • Paid time off for vacation and personal leave • Paid time off for sick leave • A generous holiday package of up to 13 days

Health Benefits • Medical insurance plans • Dental and vision insurance plans • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Financial and Savings Benefits • 529 College Savings Plan • Direct Deposit • Flexible Spending Account Programs • New York City Municipal Credit Union Savings Program • Transit Benefit Programs

Retirement and Pension Plans • New York City Employee Retirement System (NYCERS) pension plan • New York City Deferred Compensation Plan (DCP) 401(k) and 457 plan

Additional Benefits for Union Members • Disability Insurance • Health Club Reimbursements • Life Insurance • Supplemental Hospital Coverage • Tuition Reimbursement *Please note only employees represented by a labor union may qualify for additional benefits provided by the union welfare fund.

Student Loan Forgiveness • DCWP qualifies as a public service employer, which means our employees may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. If you have federal student loans, you may be able to have your loans forgiven by working full-time in public service. To learn more about PSLF and its eligibility requirements, visit the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program website.

Employee Discounts • Apple and Dell products • Cell phones and plans • Gym memberships • Special pricing on event tickets through Barclay Center, Plum Benefits and Working Advantage • And more!

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.