Data Scientist

The State of Connecticut, Office of Governmental Accountability, is seeking a Data Scientist to support the Office of the Correction Ombudsman’s oversight mission. This hybrid role in Hartford contributes through research, data collection and analysis, development of performance measures, and preparation of statistical and research products focused on Connecticut’s correctional system.

What you’ll do

• Develop and conduct research projects covering conditions of confinement, correctional operations, health care, complaints, investigations, and other areas within the Office’s jurisdiction.
• Collect, organize, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data from the Department of Correction, Office complaint records, surveys, interviews, public records, and other sources.
• Develop and maintain databases, tracking systems, and tools used to monitor complaints, investigations, recommendations, trends, and outcomes.
• Perform statistical and trend analyses to identify systemic issues, disparities, patterns, and changes within Connecticut’s correctional system.
• Create performance measures and methodologies to evaluate correctional programs, services, policies, practices, and conditions.
• Prepare statistical, narrative, and graphical presentations of research findings for reports, presentations, hearings, and other Office publications.
• Support the development and analysis of surveys and other research instruments for incarcerated individuals and other stakeholders.
• Conduct research related to correctional policies, practices, programs, and relevant state and national trends.
• Provide research and data support for investigations, systemic reviews, legislative initiatives, policy recommendations, and public reports.
• Apply statistical, analytical, and data management principles across datasets and projects.
• Design and develop data-driven projects, translating business problems, domain knowledge, and management objectives into analytic work with agency staff.
• Use established quantitative frameworks and computerized methods to analyze, summarize, visualize, and interact with data to support business and client needs.
• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of standard analytical techniques.
• Conduct literature reviews and prepare summaries to support agency activities.
• Advise agency staff on appropriate data use, including identifying risks and benefits and suggesting remedies to offset any risks.
• Develop project proposals, maintain databases and datasets, and produce reports for intra and extra departmental audiences.
• Assess and implement technologies related to data preparation and analysis.
• Perform related duties as required.

Required knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of research design methods, statistical analysis, and data management.
• Knowledge of management and development principles for data and analytics projects.
• Knowledge of relevant state and federal statutes, regulations, and guidelines.
• Knowledge of data preparation and management tools and technology for analytics projects.
• Knowledge of data governance and data management practices.
• Interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to conduct analysis by collecting and preparing data and summarizing and reporting conclusions.
• Ability to perform data analysis using appropriate data and quantitative frameworks to support program and/or policy decisions.
• Ability to use relevant software and tools for spatial analysis and/or programming languages to run analyses and generate reports and visualizations.
• Ability to develop project designs and implement them independently.
• Ability to create clear, accurate summaries and visualizations and to build dynamic reports or dashboards based on findings.
• Ability to translate data and analysis into policy or program recommendations.

Minimum qualifications

• Seven (7) years of professional experience in data analytics, quantitative methods, or geographic information systems, including statistical modeling or spatial data analysis.
• At least one (1) year of the general experience must have been at the junior working level assisting with data-management, analysis, and predictive activities to support data-driven decision-making (for state employees, interpreted at the level of an Assistant Data Scientist).
• College training in data science, mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, computer science, geographic information systems, geography, or a closely related field may substitute for general experience based on 15 semester hours equaling one-half (1/2) year of experience, up to four (4) years for a Bachelor’s degree.
• A Master’s degree in data science, mathematics, statistics, biostatistics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, computer science, or a closely related field may substitute for one (1) additional year of general experience.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience conducting quantitative or qualitative research, including research design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Experience analyzing administrative, programmatic, operational, or other large datasets and preparing statistical and narrative reports.
• Experience developing or maintaining databases, data tracking systems, dashboards, or data visualization tools.
• Experience conducting research related to criminal justice, corrections, public policy, health and human services, or another governmental or social-services system.
• Experience preparing research findings, data analyses, policy analyses, or reports for executive, legislative, governmental, or public audiences.

Role logistics and compensation

• Location: Hartford, CT (hybrid); primarily based at 55 Farmington Avenue.
• Occasional attendance at correctional facilities, meetings, hearings, or other off-site locations may be required based on operational needs.
• Remote work may be available consistent with state policy and the operational needs of the Office.
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, full time (40 hours/week), first shift 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
• Salary range: USD 99,580 to 127,777 per year.

Benefits

• Professional growth and development opportunities.
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees.

Purpose of job class: In a state agency setting, this class independently performs a full range of data management, analysis, and predictive activities to support data-driven decision-making.