Senior Manager, Security Data Science

Description

Position at MTA Headquarters

JOB TITLE: Senior Manager of Security Data ScienceDEPT/DIV: SecuritySUPERVISOR: Director, Data Information & Analysis WORK LOCATION: 2 Broadway, New York, NY 10004HOURS OF WORK: 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM (7.5 hours/day) or as requiredFULL/PART-TIME: Full TimeSALARY RANGE: $110,233 - $124,012DEADLINE: Open until filled

• This position is eligible for teleworking, which is currently one day per week. New hires are eligible to apply for telework 30 days after their effective date of hire.

Opening:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is North America's largest transportation network, serving a population of 15.3 million people across a 5,000-square-mile travel area surrounding New York City, Long Island, southeastern New York State, and Connecticut. The MTA network comprises the nation's largest bus fleet and more subway and commuter rail cars than all other U.S. transit systems combined. MTA strives to provide a safe and reliable commute, excellent customer service, and rewarding opportunities.

Job Summary:

The Senior Manager of Security Data Science at MTA HQ's Office of Security will play a lead role in overseeing the collection and management of highly sensitive police and security data, information, and intelligence from all MTA Police and Security operating departments. This role involves directing the development of the data strategy, data processes, and program structure for Police and Security, as well as analyzing and presenting findings to leadership. These findings include incident reports, surveillance footage, threat assessments, and criminal records. The data will be carefully gathered, validated, and analyzed to detect critical security trends, emerging threats, and operational vulnerabilities, supporting a comprehensive, risk-based approach to all MTA and Security Operations. The person will also act as the proxy when the Director is unavailable.

The main responsibilities involve data collection, transformation, synchronization, and modeling. This role demands considerable experience with SQL and Python, as well as the ability to direct the design and implementation of robust data architecture and analytics strategies for diverse datasets and complex analytical tasks. Key duties include maintaining detailed record-keeping processes, conducting advanced data analysis, preparing comprehensive reports, and developing actionable, data-driven strategies aligned with worldwide, regional, and local security, law enforcement, terrorism, and crime prevention initiatives. The incumbent will manage projects and staff to ensure successful outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Managing the Creation of data structures and developing code to collect, combine, and transform Security datasets for business needs.

• Lead data structure design and implement quality controls to ensure output data is valid, accurate and user-friendly. Coordinating with internal and external police and/or security data leads to address data quality problems. Enhance quality and usability of legacy datasets and systems that may be lacking in compatibility or common field types.

• Act as the internal expert for the Security data science team and supervise more junior staff members to monitor, analyze, synthesize, and report on confidential and sensitive open-source and police, intelligence, and security information sources to inform the overall MTA security strategy.

• Manage internal systems, tools, and processes to record and track MTA security incident data to identify trends and patterns. Work with agency security staff to ensure data integrity and improve data collection and presentation. Collaborate with the MTA agencies, MTA Police Department, New York Police Department, Federal and local law enforcement agencies' data teams, to gather, present, and share security data for purposes of crime prevention and counter terrorism.

• Collaborate with Security & Police departments to identify reporting needs, develop appropriate processes to achieve them, and deliver associated tasks.

• Independently define project requirements and problems as action plans that can be assigned across the team to ensure workload balancing. Oversee and ensure project processes and outputs are properly documented for continuity and presentation to Senior Security Management.

• Select, develop, oversee, and motivate personnel within the department. Provide career development for subordinates. Provide prompt and effective coaching and counseling. Responsible for discipline/termination of employees when necessary. Review performance of staff. Create a professional environment that respects individual differences and enables all employees to develop and contribute to their full potential.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Complies with all policies and standards

• May be required to work hours outside regular work hours, as applicable

• Observes the work performed by contractors, as applicable

• Reviews invoices and approves them if the work meets contractual standards, as applicable

• Addresses performance issues with the contractor when possible, as applicable

• Escalates issues to other parties when needed, as applicable

Required Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Proficiency & subject matter expert in data management, including knowledge of statistics, conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis, and applying empirical research methods and procedures such as sampling and surveying techniques, as well as analytical skills. Additionally, they will be able to stay current with technical innovations and data science trends. Incumbent is expected to be able to lead and provide training to subordinates within these skills and abilities.
• Experienced in developing and analyzing algorithms, dashboards, and/or predictive models to support security and/or policing functions and investigative methodologies. This requires the incumbent to lead a team in utilizing these methodologies for project management as it pertains to Police & Security data analytics.
• The candidate must have experience in meeting deadlines for submitting analysis reports that contain recommendations, strategy implementations, and statistical findings aimed at an executive audience. The ideal candidate will also have strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills, as well as the ability to think strategically and at a policy level.
• Proven ability to effectively communicate and perform in a high-profile, high-pressure environment, both in writing and verbally, and interacting well with all levels of the organization as well as external agencies such as the Governor's Office for New York State, New York City government, public officials, and staff at federal or state agencies or authorities.
• Must have strong supervisory skills to effectively direct professional staff and technical employees in implementing the short- and long-term goals and direction for their areas of responsibility, e.g., monitoring staff's daily performance and project progress.
• Proven ability to manage and lead team-based projects, completing both short-term and long-term initiatives efficiently and effectively. Experience in documenting processes and quality checks.
• Demonstrated proficiency with data processing, statistical software and management support tools, including Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, advanced Excel analysis, and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Strong skills in leading database designs and management with the ability to read code and interpret data.
• Familiarity with transportation systems and planning theory & practice, particularly the MTA subway, bus and railroad networks.
• Proven supervisory experience in project management principles and/or data analysis, predictive analytics, and experience in their application is desirable.
• A working knowledge and understanding of the following are highly desirable: Federal, State, and NYC security and penal regulations and laws.
• Familiarity with the MTA's policies and procedures.
• Familiarity with the MTA's collective bargaining procedures.
• Experience in supervising staff performing analytical duties.
• Experience with data exploration/data visualization tools like Tableau, Power BI, Web Focus, etc.
• Experience with GIS mapping of data or equivalent geospatial application.

Required Education and Experience:

• Minimum 8 years of experience in data information and analysis or performing statistical analysis and research, analyzing data, developing recommendations, implementing strategies, and preparing reports. With similar programming and data management content. A master's degree may substitute for one year of experience.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in building datasets, automating tasks through scripts, writing database queries, and debugging/ maintaining code.
• Minimum 3 years of experience with relational databases (e.g., Oracle, Postgres, SQL Server), including writing queries (generally with PL/SQL) to obtain and manipulate data.
• Minimum 4 years of programming experience for data analytics, most preferably in Python & SQL, but other languages such as R and Java are valuable.
• Minimum 2 years of of Supervisory/leadership experience.
• Valid Driver's License

Other Information

May need to work outside of normal work hours (i.e., evenings and weekends)

Travel may be required to other MTA locations or other external sites.

According to the New York State Public Officers Law & the MTA Code of Ethics, all employees who hold a policymaking position must file an Annual Statement of Financial Disclosure (FDS) with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government (the "Commission").

Equal Employment Opportunity

MTA and its subsidiary and affiliated agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, including those concerning veteran status and individuals with disabilities.

The MTA encourages qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities, including military service members, to apply.