Job Information
City of Somerville Somerstat Analyst in Somerville, Massachusetts
Statement of Duties
The Mayor’s Office of Innovation and Analytics, or SomerStat, integrates data into City decision making; partners with City departments to improve operational efficiency and constituent satisfaction; contributes to the City’s policy planning and implementation; and increases governmental transparency by sharing data with the community. From tracking progress towards City-wide goals to creating high-quality survey instruments, the SomerStat Analyst asks questions and solves problems across all aspects of city functioning.
Examples of data-related work that analysts perform include developing internal and public-facing performance dashboards tracking progress toward the City’s goals, including those set out in SomerVision, Vision Zero, the ADA Transition Plan and others; conducting and analyzing results from the biannual Happiness Survey and other survey efforts; geospatial analysis; process mapping; database management; and financial analysis.
Analysts work in a multitude of topic areas with varied audiences and time horizons. Examples could include evaluation of progress on climate change; updating a residential database for cross-departmental use; analyzing city operations such as the functioning of the City’s 311 constituent services program or the upkeep of the city’s roads, builds, parks, and urban canopy; and/or informing social service delivery supporting public health and safety, housing stability, the city’s youth, racial and social justice, and general wellbeing of our community.
Essential Functions:
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Provides City departments with data management, process development and evaluation, and analysis support to systematically track and assess progress in their service delivery, financial performance, and the completion of specific projects.
Assists departmental leadership in the design, development, analysis, and presentation of operations and performance management data.
Selects appropriate data sources (including collecting new data as needed); cleans, integrates, and analyzes relevant data to monitor performance and develop recommendations.
Supports the City’s commitment to transparency by identifying new sources of data to make available to the public, preparing data sets for public use, and increasing public awareness and understanding of city systems and data.
Supports the City’s commitment to equity by ensuring that data collected and/or selected for evaluation represent all the communities of Somerville, particularly those who are generally underrepresented in public engagement.
Participates in strategic communication and civic engagement efforts with staff, elected leadership, and the public, on program performance and other systems.
Prioritizes accessibility and clarity in communication of data and results, to ensure that all constituents are informed about city goals and priorities, and our progress on their achievement.
Serves as part of the project management team for citywide and cross-departmental initiatives to advance the city’s goals.
Ensures compliance with legal requirements and best practices to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of sensitive information; uses discretion and good judgement when calibrating access to data and reporting results.
Assists other departmental staff in the performance of their duties as necessary.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Bachelor’s Degree in public policy, public administration, business, economics, urban planning, finance, statistics, computer science, political science or a similar field, and three (3) years of experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Master’s degree preferred.
This role supports a variety of hybrid (in-office/remote) schedules. Candidates should expect to be able to get to City Hall as needed with reasonable advance warning; otherwise, in-person attendance is coordinated with the SomerStat Director.
The interview process for this role will be conducted virtually, and may include an assessment component. Applicants should also be prepared to provide a work sample for discussion prior to the interview.
Preference will be given to applications received by 6/2/2024.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skill
Knowledge: municipal operations; public policy; data analysis practices and techniques; budgeting and finance.
Abilities: establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with diverse stakeholders regarding strategy, policy, and operations; work independently; manage multiple tasks efficiently, prioritize, and balance short- and long-term responsibilities; carry out assignments to completion in an efficient and accurate manner; communicate and collaborate with executive-level individuals; interact with the public effectively and appropriately; problem solve and think strategically, analytically, and creatively; learn new concepts quickly; collaborate, build consensus, and lead; be self-motivated and organized; handle problems and emergencies; apply effective judgment and discretion to maintain a high level of confidentiality when handling sensitive information; and maintain, manage, and organize records.
Skills: proficient in operating personal computers and applicable word processing, spreadsheet, and statistical analysis applications, specifically MS Excel or other data analysis and visualization tools, such as R, Python, or Tableau; excellent written and oral communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills; excellent data analysis, database development and management, strategic thinking, problem solving, leadership and project management skills. GIS, front end/web development, and/or programming language skills preferred but not required.
Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills
Minimal physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30lbs.).
Motor Skills
Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone, personal computer and/or most other office equipment including word processing, filing and sorting of papers.
Visual Skills
Visual demands require constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.
Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $81,182.41 annualized + benefits
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Not exempt
Date Posted: May 23, 2024
City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees
Overview of Total Rewards:
4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.
Powered by JazzHR