Senior Data Scientist (2-Year Temp Position with Potential for Permanent Hire)

JOB

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

The Community Development division is responsible for the Council's regional long-range planning efforts; planning and technical assistance to local governments; planning for and funding the regional parks and open space system; delivering rent assistance through the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority; and delivering the Livable Communities Act grant programs.

The Community Development Research department collects, disseminates, and analyzes quantitative and qualitative data about demographic trends and inequities, development patterns, climate change, parks visitation, long-range forecasts, and the regional economy. We believe research can improve the lives of residents in our region and see our skills, creativity, and platforms as resources to further shared understanding about regional issues that matter.

This position is part of the Strategy and Product Design team, a specialized group within the research department. We center people, integrate equity, and transform technical into accessible through—and by—design. All team members are skilled in data visualization, committed to web accessibility, and leverage user experience (UX) design principles and product-thinking to develop and deliver digital research products. How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Senior Data Scientist will directly support the research department’s mission to provide relevant, timely, and accessible data about the Twin Cities region to the public and organization through two key assignments: 1) a modernization of Community Profiles (an interactive application on Metropolitan Council’s public website) and 2) the design and development of the Imagine 2050 Outcomes Measurement Program dashboard (an expansive regional trend monitoring program). Both projects will generate innovative digital research products that are guided by user experience (UX) research and use data visualization best practices.

The Senior Data Scientist will be responsible for data transformations and statistical modeling applied to a variety of data sources and types (e.g. time-series, spatial, etc.). Given the research department’s recent adoption of a new, unified cloud-based analytics platform (Azure Databricks), the best-qualified candidate will also have technical knowledge of data modeling and/or experience collaborating with data engineering teams in the context of developing web based, interactive applications or similar digital products.

• This position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES

Produce data assets for digital research content

• Collaborate with research staff to develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models in a new enterprise-wide Azure Databricks open lakehouse environment to support external applications.
• Lead data analysis efforts by developing innovative approaches and applying advanced statistical methods across diverse data sources, delivering trustworthy, well-documented data pipelines.
• Partner with subject matter experts and data stewards across the division to develop short- and long-term best-fit data ingestion and maintenance strategies for internal data sources that meet product-based data specifications.
• Participate in relevant communities of practice; share and learn from staff peers to advance the department’s practices and governance of the division’s lakehouse.

Build and support digital research products

• Collaborate with team to scope, design, build, and performance-tune digital research products using Tableau, R and R Shiny, ESRI ArcGIS Online and Enterprise Portal, and other software/tools as required.
• Use data visualization best practices to translate complex research concepts and findings into usable and accessible tools for a diverse user base.
• Apply user experience and user interface (UX/UI) design principles and findings from user experience research to digital research products to ensure successful outcomes.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade H

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

You would perform your work in a standard office setting.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

• We review your minimum qualifications.
• We rate your education and experience.
• We conduct a structured in-person panel interview.
• We conduct a selection virtual interview.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (safety sensitive positions only) and a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a drug test (if moving from a non-safety sensitive position to a safety sensitive position) and criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us*.*