COORDINATED ENTRY RESEARCH ANALYST

NYC Department of Social Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Department of Social Services seeks a City Research Scientist II to support the Coordinated Entry system by providing research, data analysis and evaluation for CAPS. You will work with leadership to develop performance measures and respond to cross‑agency data requests.

The role requires strong SQL and statistical software skills, experience with CAPS/CARES data, and clear written communication. NYC residency is expected; one-year probation applies.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required for Assignment Level I in physical, biological, environmental sciences or public health.
• For Assignment Level II and above, doctorate with 1 year supervisory/research experience; or Master's with 3 years' research experience; or equivalent.
• Two years as City Research Scientist Level I can substitute for experience in 1 and 2 above.

Responsibilities

• Perform evaluation and research using CAPS data to identify operational efficiencies and inform performance measures.
• Design and analyze analyses of CAPS data; create non-automated SQL code for extraction and analysis of complex data sets; present findings.
• Monitor CAPS data for survey, application, determination, rapid-housing and vacancy control modules; develop new recording and visualization methods.
• Prepare responses to legal and media requests by extracting CAPS data with SQL.
• Support HUD reporting, validate and upload file sets from CAPS into HMIS data warehouse; collaborate to refine file generation logic.
• Conduct data sharing for intra- and interagency research and evaluation.
• Review literature and data to inform research questions and methodologies.
• Perform other related duties as directed.

Skills

SQL programming

SPSS

STATA

SAS

Tableau

MS Excel

Word

PowerPoint

CAPS data systems

CARES data systems

Local Law 3 of 2022

Local Law 135 of 2025

Strong writing

Communication skills

Education

Master's degree in physical, biological, environmental or social science or public health

Doctorate degree in physical, biological, environmental or social science and 1 year supervisory/research experience

Master's degree plus 3 years of full-time research experience

Tools

Non-automated SQL

Job description

The Human Resources Administration (HRA) is dedicated to fighting poverty and income inequality by providing New Yorkers in need with essential benefits such as Food Assistance and Emergency Rental Assistance. As the largest local social services agency in the country, HRA helps more than three million New Yorkers annually through the administration of more than 15 major public assistance programs.

Housing Services Administration is a division of New York City’s Department of Social Services that oversees housing stability and rehousing efforts. HSA administers rental assistance, housing supply, and placement programs to help individuals and families exit shelter, prevent homelessness, and secure safe, affordable housing across the city.

The Office of Supportive Housing and Specialized Services helps formerly homeless clients succeed in the community by providing access to permanent housing with support services. Supportive Housing and Specialized Services works closely with other divisions of DSS/HRA/DHS and with other governmental and non-governmental providers to create new programs and to integrate and refine existing services so that clients experiencing homelessness and those at risk can move into safe, affordable housing that best supports their stability and integration in the community.

Program areas under Supportive Housing & Specialized Services purview include the Coordinated Entry Unit which oversees the Coordinated Assessment and Placement System (CAPS). CAPS serves as NYC’s Coordinated Entry system per the HUD mandate to ensure that localities use a coordinated system to assure systematic and timely referral and placement of homeless and at‑risk clients into the most appropriate permanent housing programs. CAPS includes assessment services for individuals/families potentially eligible for supportive housing or rental assistance programs; an application system to determine supportive housing eligibility; a rapid‑rehousing request, referral and enrollment module; an electronic referral component; and a vacancy control system to verify and monitor placements.

The Office of Supportive Housing and Specialized Services is recruiting for one (1) City Research Scientist II to function as a Research Analyst who will support the Director of Coordinated Entry and the Senior Research Analyst by providing research and evaluation to inform the development and implementation of the CAPS Coordinated Entry system and who will:

• Perform evaluation and research using descriptive, process and outcomes data from CAPS to identify operational efficiencies, assess model fidelity, and inform the development of operational performance measures; this includes extracting CAPS information by writing non‑automated SQL and SPSS code and reviewing, quantifying, and analyzing data using various research methodologies.
• Support DSS/HRA supportive housing policy directives and respond to data and analytic requests from leadership and external stakeholders by: designing, executing and analyzing analyses of CAPS data; developing non‑automated ad hoc SQL code for extraction and analysis of complex data sets; designing, preparing and presenting data visualizations; and disseminating research findings beyond the unit through writing memos and reports including Local Law submissions and creating and delivering presentations.
• Monitor administrative CAPS data for survey, application, determination, rapid‑rehousing, and vacancy control modules; make and record observations, including developing new recording systems; design and prepare visualizations and communicate findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare responses to legal and media requests, including creating non‑automated SQL code to extract and analyze CAPS data.
• Support Federal reporting to HUD; validate, troubleshoot, and upload file sets extracted from CAPS into NYC's HMIS data warehouse; collaborate with the Office of Business Strategies and Solutions to refine file generation logic as needed.
• Conduct data sharing in support of intra- and interagency research and evaluation efforts.
• Perform literature and data reviews to evaluate the validity and reliability of prior studies and reports to be used in formulating research questions and future report methodologies.
• Perform other related duties as directed.

Hours/Schedule: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

Minimum Qualifications

• 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:

• 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
• 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
• 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.

Preferred Skills

• Excellent analytical skills. - SQL programming experience. - Statistical software experience (SPSS preferred, STATA or SAS helpful, and Tableau). - MS Excel, Word, and Power Point. - Familiarity with CAPS and CARES data systems. - Familiarity with NYC Local Law 3 of 2022 and Local Law 135 of 2025. - Strong writing and communication skills.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

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.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.