Data Scientist - Police Department’s Office Data, Analytics and Technology

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) is the nation's fourth largest police department, with over 6300 sworn members and 800 civilian personnel. The PPD is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for serving Philadelphia County, extending over 140 square-miles in which approximately 1.5 million reside.

Geographically, the Department is divided into twenty-one police districts (each headed by a captain), which comprise six police divisions (Northwest, Northeast, East, Central, Southwest, South - each headed by a Divisional Inspector), into two major sections of the city, Regional Operations Command North (ROC North) and Regional Operations Command South (ROC South), each headed by one Chief Inspector under Patrol Operations.

Personnel are assigned to work in 55 different locations throughout Philadelphia, with Police Headquarters located in the 6th Police District, in Center City, at 400 North Broad Street.

Job Description

The Police Department is seeking a highly motivated and analytically driven Data Scientist to support data-informed decision-making across public safety operations.

This position will play a critical role in modernizing data collection through PowerApps, performing advanced analytics using diverse data sources, conducting impact evaluations of crime prevention and enforcement initiatives, and developing dashboards to visualize patterns/trends.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in data science, programming, and public sector analytics, along with the ability to communicate findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Key Responsibilities

Application Development

• Design, develop, and maintain Microsoft PowerApps and supporting tools to streamline data collection from internal stakeholders (e.g., officers, supervisors, command staff).
• Integrate PowerApps with existing data systems such as RMS, CAD, and internal SQL databases.
• Ensure that data collection tools are secure, user-friendly, and responsive to field and administrative needs.

Advanced Data Analytics

• Extract, clean, and analyze data from multiple law enforcement and city data systems.
• Develop predictive models and statistical analyses to identify crime patterns, resource allocation inefficiencies, and public safety risks.
• Create dashboards and reports using Power BI, R, or Python to support command-level decision-making.

Program Evaluation & Impact Assessment

• Design and conduct evaluations of crime-fighting initiatives such as hotspot policing, focused deterrence, or community engagement strategies.
• Apply methods such as matched comparisons, time-series analysis, or spatial analysis to measure program effectiveness.
• Present findings to department leadership, city officials, and public stakeholders with policy recommendations based on evidence.

Collaboration & Training

• Work closely with crime analysts, IT, patrol supervisors, and command staff to align data projects with operational needs.
• Partner with academic institutions and vendors on joint research initiatives
• Provide training or support on new tools and methodologies to enhance data literacy across the department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field
• 3–5 years of experience in data science, analytics, or application development, preferably in government, healthcare, or criminal justice settings
• Experience developing Microsoft PowerApps, including Power Automate and Dataverse integration.
• Proficiency in data analytics tools (e.g., Python, R, SQL), geospatial analysis (e.g., ArcGIS) and visualization platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Experiences in developing apps using PowerApps and other MS Power Platform
• Experience working with geospatial data and tools in the enterprise setting is a plus

Additional Information

TO APPLY

Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample.

Salary Range

$80,000 - $90,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

• The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status.

If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx