Description

Position at MTA Headquarters

JOB TITLE:

Security Data Science Specialist

DEPT/DIV:

Security

SUPERVISOR:

Director, Data Info & Analysis

WORK LOCATION:

2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004

HOURS OF WORK:

8:00 am - 4:30 pm (7.5 hours/day) or as required

FULL/PART-TIME

FULL

SALARY RANGE:

$89,404 - $100,582

DEADLINE:

Until filled

This position is eligible for telework, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Job Summary:

The security data science specialist within MTA HQ's Office of Security will be tasked with collecting and utilizing highly sensitive police and security data, information, and intelligence sets from all MTA Police and Security operating departments. This will include incident reports, surveillance footage, threat assessments, and criminal records. This data will be meticulously compiled, validated, and analyzed to identify critical security trends, emerging threats, and operational vulnerabilities, thereby supporting a comprehensive, risk-based approach to all MTA and Security Operations.

The primary duties of the incumbent will be focused on data gathering, transformation, synchronization, and modeling. This work will require experience in languages such as SQL and Python, as well as supporting the design and deployment of robust data architecture and analytics strategies tailored to diverse datasets and complex analytical challenges. Responsibilities include working on detailed record-keeping processes, conducting advanced data analysis, preparing comprehensive reports, and developing actionable, data-driven strategies aligned with worldwide, regional, and local security, law enforcement, terrorism, and crime prevention initiatives.

The role requires a detail-oriented, proactive approach, with the ability to manage assigned priorities under strict deadlines while providing excellent communication skills to present findings to both technical and nontechnical audiences.

Responsibilities:

• Writing code that will combine and transform datasets to meet a specific Security & Police need.
• Design and implement quality controls to ensure output data is valid, accurate, and user-friendly. Coordinating with internal and external police and/or security data leads to addressing data quality problems. Enhance the quality and usability of legacy datasets and systems that may be lacking in compatibility or common field types.
• Developing reports and dashboards in a variety of formats (Excel, Power BI, Report Builder, ArcGIS, automated emails, etc.) to share finished analysis with stakeholders.
• Lead specific data team projects/recurring tasks such as monitoring, analyzing, synthesizing, and reporting on confidential and sensitive open-source and police, intelligence, and security information sources to inform the overall MTA security strategy.
• Utilize internal systems, tools, and processes to record and track MTA security incident data to identify trends and patterns. Suggest methods to ensure data integrity and improve data collection, processes, and presentation.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and leadership to understand reporting needs and design outputs to achieve them. Produce the final design and workflows in consultation with senior managers. Outline project requirements and problems as action plans that can be assigned to more junior team members. Ensure project process and outputs are properly documented for continuity and presentation to Senior Security Management.
• Providing support and instruction (in both business knowledge and coding practices) to analysts and consultant staff.
• Keeping skills current by learning new algorithms, programming languages, and techniques.

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficiency in data management, including knowledge of statistics, quantitative and qualitative data analysis, empirical research methods and procedures such as sampling and surveying techniques, and analytical skills. Additionally, they will have the capability to stay current with technical innovation and trends in data science.
• Experience in developing and analyzing algorithms, dashboards, and/or predictive models to support security and/or policing functions and investigative methodologies.
• Proven ability to manage team-based projects, completing both short-term and long-term initiatives efficiently and effectively. Experience in documenting processes and quality checks.
• Strong skills in database design and management with the ability to read code and interpret data.
• Demonstrated proficiency with data processing, statistical software and management support tools, including Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, advanced Excel analysis, and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience in supervising staff performing analytical duties.
• Familiarity with transportation systems and planning theory & practice, particularly the MTA subway, bus, and railroad networks.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) in Security, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Management, Statistics, Data Science, Data Engineering, Mathematics, Public Policy or a related field from an accredited college or an equivalent combination of education from an accredited college and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in data, information, and analysis or performing statistical analysis and research, analyzing data, developing recommendations, implementing strategies, and preparing reports with similar programming and data management content. A master's degree may substitute for one year of experience.
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience building datasets, automating tasks through scripts, writing database queries, and debugging/ maintaining code.
• Minimum 4 years of experience with Python and SQL programming.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with relational databases (e.g., Oracle, Postgres, SQL Server), including writing queries (generally with PL/SQL) to obtain and manipulate data.
• A valid driver's license is required.

The Following is/are preferred:

• Master's degree in Arts/Sciences (MA/MS) in Security, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, Mathematics, Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Management, Statistics, Data Science, Data Engineering, Mathematics, Public Policy or a related field from an accredited college. A Master's degree can account for one year of related experience.
• Demonstrated experience meeting report filing deadlines for analysis reports with recommendations, strategy implementations, and statistical findings at an executive level, interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills with the ability to think at a policy and strategic level.
• A working knowledge of project management principles and/or data analysis, predictive analytics, and experience in their application is desirable.
• A working knowledge and understanding of the following are highly desirable: Federal, State, and NYC security and penal regulations and laws.
• Familiarity with the MTA's policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the MTA's collective bargaining procedures.
• Familiarity with data exploration/data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, Web Focus, etc.
• Familiarity with GIS mapping of data or equivalent geospatial application.

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the "Commission").