Data Scientist

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) seeks a visionary Data Scientist to join the Bike Share & Shared Mobility unit in NYC. The role will craft technical requirements, translate Citi Bike data into actionable insights, and support planning and operations with analytics and storytelling.

The ideal candidate will blend data science with strategic communication, develop dashboards in Power BI, and collaborate with leadership across operations, planning, and policy to shape the future of

Qualifications

• Master's degree in physical, biological, environmental science or public health for Level I.
• Level II requires a doctorate or a master's with several years of research/ supervisory experience; at least a master’s and two years experience.
• Residency and eligibility requirements apply to City employment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research and analysis on bike share and shared mobility to inform planning.
• Develop predictive models to forecast ridership and revenue under different scenarios.
• Prepare reports based on Citi Bike and shared mobility databases.
• Monitor vendor compliance with regulations, policies, and contracts.
• Respond to ad hoc data requests from internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

Python

SQL

Power BI

Tableau

Education

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

Doctorate degree in physical, biological, environmental or social science

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) provides for the safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible movement of people and goods in the City of New York and maintains and enhances the transportation infrastructure crucial to the economic vitality and quality of life of City residents. DOT is an equal opportunity employer, committed to recruiting and maintaining a diverse workforce in an open and inclusive environment.

This candidate will serve as a Data Scientist in NYC DOT’s Bike Share & Shared Mobility unit, which is responsible for planning and oversight of the Citi Bike program and other shared micro mobility services in New York City. Citi Bike is a public transportation service and a public-private partnership that is among the largest and most successful bike share systems in the world. The program is in the midst of a five-year expansion that will ultimately double the size of its previous service area and put more than 40,000 bicycles within a five-minute walk of half of NYC residents. Other shared micro-mobility services in NYC include dockless e-scooter and e-moped shares.

We are seeking a visionary and analytical Data Scientist to join our team at a historic turning point as the original Bike Share Program Agreement nears its end in 2029 and the City prepares to reimagine the future of the bike share program. The position will serve as a core technical architect for what comes next. Beyond day-to-day system analytics, the position will research cutting-edge technology, evaluate back-end architecture, and craft technical requirements to support the future of bike share in NYC.

The position plays a pivotal role in shaping how we understand, monitor, and optimize our shared mobility systems. This individual will combine data science, advanced visualization, and strategic storytelling to translate complex data from Citi Bike and Shared E-Scooter programs into actionable insights that inform planning and day-to-day operations. The ideal candidate thrives at the intersection of analytics and communication - able to uncover patterns, craft compelling narratives, and partner with internal team members at all levels to drive informed decision-making.

Reporting to the Director of Data Science, the Data Scientist will be responsible for, but not limited to:

Data Analytics & Research

• Conduct research and analysis on bike share and shared mobility to inform current and future planning
• Develop predictive models to answer complex and nuanced questions about the programs and anticipate future needs and behavior of the systems (e.g., simulate how different pricing mechanisms impact ridership and system revenue)
• Prepare reports and briefing materials based on the databases that underlie the bike share and shared mobility systems
• Monitor vendor compliance with governmental regulations, DOT policies, and contract terms
• Respond quickly and accurately to ad hoc data requests for internal and external stakeholders

Visualization & Storytelling

• Develop and maintain dashboards to deliver insights to internal team members using software such as Power BI
• Translate data into stories that resonate with senior staff, managers, and staff, highlighting both the "what" and the "why"

Strategic Thinking & Partnership

• Research and evaluate best practices for bike share technology, hardware, and data infrastructure to support leadership in crafting technical specifications for the future of bike share in NYC
• Collaborate with leadership, Operations, Planning, and Policy teams to align analytics and research agendas with organizational priorities
• Offer evidence-based recommendations to support system planning, managing existing service areas, and shaping future policy decisions
• Act as a trusted advisor and build strong relationships with the internal team members.

Data Management

• Monitor data quality, identify issues, and maintain data integrity.
• Document data management procedures (e.g., data dictionaries, business rules)
• Plan, design, maintain, and support unit internal databases

CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744

Minimum Qualifications

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.

Preferred Skills

• Mastery with spreadsheets and at least one coding language (Python, R, etc.) for data manipulation
• Experience in querying, cleaning, and maintaining large relational databases using SQL
• Experience with data visualization software such as Power BI and/or Tableau
• Strong familiarity with providing statistical support by participating in the development of statistical methodology, study design, and data analysis of analytical projects
• Mastery with presentation slides, data visualization software, maps, and memos. This includes leveraging visualization tools to present information in a way that drives fact-based decision making by developing intuitive static and interactive data graphics
• Ability to relate complex trends in the data to larger policy issues, to work with the operations and planning team to tailor data analysis and products to their needs
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, research presentation, written, and oral communication skills
• Willingness to be flexible and work as part of a team
• Experience or interest in transportation planning, logistics, bike share, micro mobility, cycling, and working with or in the public sector

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.