Policy Data Analyst

Towards AI, Inc.; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

Job summary

Recidiviz is seeking a Policy Data Analyst to join a mission-driven team working remotely or from New York City or Oakland. You will analyze complex criminal justice data, translate policy questions into quantitative metrics, and support data-driven reforms with stakeholders across government and partners.

The role emphasizes collaboration with data science, implementation engineering, and policy teams to design analyses that inform policy changes while maintaining rigor and impact.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of practical experience exploring, analyzing, and processing complex datasets.
• Strong SQL skills with the ability to write efficient queries for large extractions.
• Proficiency in Python with Pandas for analysis and visualization.
• Ability to translate policy concepts into quantitative metrics for stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Leverage criminal justice datasets to generate context-responsive insights.
• Adapt analytical methods to evidence detailed policy concepts and quantify policy-design tradeoffs.
• Contextualizing and communicating key findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborating with our Data Science and Implementation Engineering teams to design and execute on targeted roadmaps.

Skills

Data Science

Data Analysis

Statistical Analysis

Data Visualization

Mathematics

Statistics

Tools

Jupyter Notebook

Google Cloud Platform

BigQuery

Looker

GitHub

Pandas

Job description

# Policy Data Analyst## RecidivizPublished 29 Mar 2026### Share this jobNew York, NY, USA97K - 97K USD AnnualRemoteFull Time## Role Highlights### Languages usedSQLPythonGO### Key skillsData ScienceData AnalysisProduct ManagementProduct DesignData VisualizationStatistical AnalysisStaticModellingQuantitativeDataSetsMathematicsStatisticsTransformationCloudStartupAIConsole### Tools, Libraries and FrameworksJupyter NotebookGCPARMBigQueryLookerSpringGitHubGridJSONPandasNoteBooks## DescriptionBack to jobsNewPolicy Data AnalystRemote, New York City, or OaklandApplyLocation: Remote, New York City, or OaklandTravel of approximately one week per quarter may be required.Role Type: Full-timeCompensation: $97,000Visa sponsorship: Not availableHires remotely in: United StatesExperience: 2+ yearsRecidiviz is thrilled to be hiring a Policy Data Analyst to join our team! Were a small, fast-moving group that works with complex criminal justice data from our state partners and develops analyses and tools that target the drivers of incarceration. Thats where you come in. Were looking for someone who has creativity and inquisitiveness to identify and solve open-ended problems, clarity to think through complex and variable data, flexibility to adjust in a rapidly evolving environment, and above all else, a collaborative, kind nature to add to our culture.About usRecidiviz is creating safer, healthier communities by improving outcomes for people in the criminal justice system. We build technology to reduce the number of people in prison and to help criminal justice leaders embrace data-driven decision-making.Using software tools and thoughtful product design, weve been able to safely and permanently reduce incarceration and improve outcomes. We work side-by-side with leaders of the criminal justice system, people in prison and on supervision, and ecosystem partners to build a better path forward. In addition to the revenue we earn from state partners, some of the most respected philanthropists and foundations support our work.People who succeed at Recidiviz lead with kindness and humility, assume good intent, learn from failure, and fix problems when they see them. They are excited to work arm in arm with government leadership and staff to improve outcomes. They are great listeners. They build deep relationships with and empathy for the people we work with and the people who our mission serves, even when those two groups feel at odds.About the roleRecidivizs policy team supports state DOC leaders that want to rewrite old policies or implement new ones, rooted in evidence and analytics, to improve outcomes, increase public safety and community health, and drive meaningful changes. We tailor data analysis, built on detailed DOC data, to answer questions like: What combination of criteria best select for probation clients who are safe to discharge? What static factors influence parole decisions today and how would that change if new, dynamic factors were added? How many people would X, Y, or Z adjustment to a policy affect and what can we say about the affected group? By translating concepts into concrete modeling, we help drive smarter and more ambitious change.This role collaborates across several teams to guide work that targets the drivers of incarceration. Our Policy Data Analysts work with diverse data criminal justice data both raw and processed from across the country, reports and policy documents from government agencies, and much more to develop the policy analyses that deepen our understanding of the criminal justice system and motivate policy change. Our Policy Data Analysts translate policy concepts into quantitative metrics, perform analyses, and play a key role in contextualizing and presenting their analyses to stakeholders, both internal and external.Travel of approximately one week per quarter may be required.Core responsibilitiesLeveraging criminal justice datasets to generate context-responsive insights that expand momentum for policy reformAdapting analytical methods to evidence detailed policy concepts and quantify policy-design tradeoffsContextualizing and communicating key findings to internal and external stakeholdersCollaborating with our Data Science and Implementation Engineering teams to design and execute on targeted roadmaps that drive impact in the states where we workCollaborating with our Product Management and State Engagement teams to bring analyses and data modeling into administrative and legislative policy processesWild successA year from now:Youve driven impact. Your work has informed several policy reforms across the country and has helped quantify the impact those reforms are having on the outcomes of the justice system.Youve leveled up our analytical team. Your contributions to our analytics and processes, as well as your support for your teammates, has helped set our team up to achieve more impact sooner.Minimum qualificationsStrong communication and collaboration skills, to help nurture a knowledgeable, data-oriented cultureEnthusiasm for working with internal and external partners from diverse backgrounds and worldviews, such as government staff, legislators, political consultants, researchers, journalists, technical staff, and practitioners in criminal justice reformSufficient math or statistical background to reason about analysis design, examine results closely, and prepare data and analyses that are usable for various applications2 or more years of practical experience exploring, analyzing, and processing complex datasetsProfessional work experience using SQL to work with large datasets, including high proficiency writing efficient queries for more complex data extraction and transformation tasksHigh familiarity with Python, specifically Pandas package, for tasks such as statistical analysis and data visualizationPreferred qualificationsAbility to discern when and how analysis is actionable for stakeholders; ability to wear your public servant hat while conducting analysisExperience adapting quantitative methods that introduce intuitively meaningful metrics in ambiguous, unconstrained contextsExperience balancing depth and speed when navigating short timelines and shifting prioritiesExperience working with large datasets from the public sector, especially related to criminal justiceFamiliarity with our data stack, which includes Google Cloud Platform, BigQuery, Looker, Jupyter notebooks, and Python/PandasCompensationCompensation is standardized based on roles and responsibilities. This ensures equitable compensation and responsible stewardship of our resources. As such, we do not negotiate compensation offers.The compensation for this role is: $97,000.What we offerEffective, extremely thoughtful colleagues, working together on a mission that matters90% medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage for you and your dependentsFlexible time off, including 20 days of PTO, 3 days of paid volunteering time, and 13 paid holidays12 weeks of paid parental leave401(k) retirement plan with 5% company match and no vesting periodComplimentary One Medical membership (depending on location)Partnership with Carrot to provide employees with inclusive fertility and family-forming benefits, as well as a small but growing number of hormonal health and gender-affirming care benefitsMonthly ClassPass credit for personal wellnessFree mental health support via TalkspaceWell-located offices in Oakland and Manhattan, with the flexibility to work remotely or go into either office as you chooseAn annual company offsite each spring and other ad-hoc gatheringsAll the exhilarating challenges and stretch opportunities of a tech startup, combined with the mission-driven heart of a nonprofitMore about RecidivizRecidiviz was an all-volunteer effort until early 2019, when Clementine, Andrew, and Joshua founded the organization. Since then, weve built an A-team of software engineers, designers, product managers and domain experts, from companies like Google, Apple, Dropbox, Opower, and Sidewalk Labs. Recidiviz was part of Y-Combinators 2019 class and has received support from some of the most respected philanthropists and foundations, including Ford Foundation, Mackenzie Scott, Schmidt Futures, Arnold Ventures, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the Mozilla Foundation.Today, Recidiviz works with (and earns revenue from) over 18 state partners big and small, red and blue and covers more than 40% of the US incarcerated population. We have helped to get tens of thousands of people out of the criminal justice system, safely and equitably, and saved states nearly $1 billion. In the next five years, Recidiviz plans to partner with 40 states and help 250,000 people who are stuck in the system to get out and stay out. In addition to partnering with state Departments of Corrections, Recidiviz collaborates with and learns from partners from organizations like the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) to community based organizations and justice-impacted individuals, whose perspectives guide our work.To learn more about how we do what we do, check out our 2024 Year in Review, read some press coverage, or watch our TED Talk. And if youre really keen to see our work, you can dive into our Github :).An important noteLasting change is always built on diversity. Recidiviz recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, gender identity and all protected status as required by applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you have a special need that requires accommodation, please let us know in your application. Even if you don't think you meet all the criteria above, drop your resume, and we'll take a look you might be great for another role or another time!## Required Qualifications and SkillsThe role requires strong communication and collaboration skills to foster a data-oriented culture. Candidates should be enthusiastic about working with diverse internal and external partners. A sufficient math or statistical background is necessary for reasoning about analysis design and preparing data. Two or more years of practical experience in exploring, analyzing, and processing complex datasets are required. Professional work experience using SQL for large datasets, including writing efficient queries, is essential. High familiarity with Python, specifically the Pandas package, for statistical analysis and data visualization is also required.