Research & Compliance Associate

City of New York - New York, NY

Full-time - Entry Level

New York, NY

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The New York City Board of Correction (BOC) is seeking a Research & Compliance Associate who is passionate about utilizing evidence-based approaches and data-driven decision-making to enhance justice, fairness, and excellence within the corrections system. This position offers a unique opportunity to join a newly established research and compliance unit within a nationally recognized institution that possesses extensive oversight powers. The primary focus of the research and compliance team will be to collaborate with the monitoring team to assess and ensure compliance with the Minimum Standards set forth by the Board. This role will involve conducting both primary and secondary research, leveraging the Board's unique access to jails and Department of Correction (DOC) data. The Research & Compliance Associate will be instrumental in promoting adherence to existing regulations, informing the development of new regulations, and supporting innovative practices within the jails and the broader criminal justice system. The position is based in lower Manhattan, but the Associate will frequently be required to perform research and compliance duties at Rikers Island and other DOC facilities. Reporting directly to the Board's Assistant Executive Director of Research, the Associate will engage in a variety of tasks that contribute to the Board's mission of oversight and reform in the correctional system.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the Board's research agenda and the research and compliance team.
• Collaborating with BOC's monitoring staff on various research and evaluation projects.
• Researching national trends and best practices in corrections.
• Assisting in the production of public reports.
• Developing quantitative and qualitative data collection instruments.
• Conducting interviews and focus groups.
• Performing data management tasks, including data entry, data cleaning, and data analysis.
• Creating data dashboards and other data visualization tools.

Requirements

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental science, or public health for Assignment Level I.
• For Assignment Level II and above, a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field and one year of full-time experience in a supervisory, administrative, or research capacity; or a master's degree with three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field.
• At least two years of experience in a relevant research capacity, with the possibility of substituting two years as a City Research Scientist Level I for the required experience.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in corrections or criminal justice research.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools and techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Full-time position with at least 35 hours per week.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.