Data Program Manager 

The City of Syracuse’s Office of Analytics, Performance, and Innovation (API) strives to develop new and creative solutions to our city’s civic challenges and champion an administration-wide effort in data-driven decision-making and performance management. In the past several years, API has collaborated across departments to take on analytic and process design projects by helping departments access the data they need, building dashboards to show progress toward goals, and publishing data publicly to better engage residents. In recent years, some of the City of Syracuse’s data projects have included using data to equitably inform which roads to pave, communicating snow operations to residents in real-time, predicting water main breaks, sharing data through its Open Data Portal, and updating its data infrastructure to be more secure and better meet the evolving needs of Syracuse residents. 

Are you interested in how cities and community can leverage data for public impact in a socially responsible way? Do you enjoy thinking strategically and working with multiple stakeholders in a social-impact and value-driven organization? We are looking for a Data Program Manager to join our growing data team. 

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Analytics and Data Management, the Data Program Manager is a hybrid role that combines analyzing data and coding with management of some of the programs that make up our data portfolio.  The Data Program Manager will work with the API team to complete various data analytics and performance management projects.  Some of the areas the Data Program Manager may focus on include: 

  • Data Governance: Help conduct research and drive the conversations around the “rules of the road” the City develops for its data. 

  • Open Data: Help maintain the City’s Open Data Portal and support efforts to share data with residents and engage the community. 

  • Surveillance Technology: Help lead the Surveillance Technology Working Group to ensure rigorous and transparent evaluation of new technologies by the City. 

  • What Works Cities certification: Manage the City’s engagement with the initiative, document progress, and work with departments in advancing the City’s data-driven agenda.

  • Help the City build and maintain its authoritative addressing data source.

The Data Program Manager will be expected to develop good relationships with key personnel while communicating in a confidential capacity regarding program performance.  The Data Program Manager will work with team members, other departments, and external stakeholders to define scopes, set clear milestones and deliverables, and ensure that the programs deliver value in a timely fashion. This position will play a crucial role in the development and execution of Syracuse’s citywide data strategy and help the City leverage data in its decision-making. 

At a high-level, the data program manager will spend their time: 

  • Managing the on-going data programs offered by our office.  This includes developing roadmaps and working with team members to ensure their timely execution. 

  • Establishing, maintaining, and managing relationships with client departments, offices, and external City partners around analytics and data-sharing. 

  • Supporting the creation and implementation of analytics pilot projects and cross-agency data sharing programs aimed at growing analytics capacity citywide. 

  • Performing data analyses, using appropriate software tools, to measure and communicate program performance 

  • Working cross-departmentally to evaluate the performance of City programs and policies. 

  • Communicating the impact of API’s programs and projects effectively across a variety of audiences 

  • Handling other special projects and initiatives as identified by leadership. 

Desired Educational Qualifications and Experience

  • A bachelor's degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above 

  • A bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, engineering, or another STEM field is preferred and may be substituted for two (2) years of the required experience 

  • An advanced degree in a quantitative field is a plus. 

  • Strong analytical, problem solving, and communication skills, including mapping of business needs or issues to technical solutions 

  • Demonstrated ability to communicate technical nuances in plain language with partners of varying technical background 

  • Ability to thoughtfully communicate with team leaders and relevant stakeholders. 

  • Experience designing and conducting rigorous evaluations is a plus. 

  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects or programs. Project management certification is a plus. 

  • Experience with data analysis and manipulation using Python, R, or a comparable coding language 

  • Familiarity with business intelligence tools such as PowerBI is a plus 

  • Familiarity with GIS tools such as ArcGIS is a plus 

Salary and Benefits  

The City of Syracuse offers a starting salary of $63,000 for this position and a competitive benefits package.   

About API 

If you join our team, you will be working alongside a group of innovators and change makers that are striving to make the City of Syracuse more effective and equitable for residents by catalyzing local government to be more responsive, experimental and informed by evidence. Our functional expertise lies in areas such as project management, design thinking, data analytics, geospatial analysis, and more.

Additional Information 

This role is full-time. You must have authorization to work in the United States. The City offers benefits. 

The City of Syracuse expects employees to work in-person.  The team is flexible in allowing members to work remotely as needed, but the expectation is that you will be in-person most days.  If you do not live in Syracuse, City regulations require that you must establish residency in the City within six months of starting the position. City of Syracuse residency will be required.

Interested applicants should e-mail an up-to-date resume and cover letter to the Director of Analytics and Data Management, Jason Thomas, at jthomas@syr.gov.  Please name your files using the ‘LastName_Resume’ and ‘LastName_CoverLetter’ standard (For example, ‘Thomas_Resume.doc’ and ‘Thomas_CoverLetter.doc’).  We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and aim to reply to your application within two weeks.  
 
The City of Syracuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Any questions should be submitted to the Chief Innovation & Data Officer at NDiaz@syrgov.net.