BetaNYC’s Civic Innovation Lab Associates help perform data analytics, research municipal technology and data systems, run events, and assist the Civic Innovation Lab Director and Manager. Lab Associates must be comfortable learning new skills or be knowledgeable in these subject matters and comfortable teaching them to Civic Innovation Fellows, community board members, Borough President and City Council staff, and the general public. As Associates, you will be instrumental in hosting open data trainings throughout the city, maintaining existing digital projects, and researching and helping build new tools.
As with our other apprentices, associates will receive personal attention from the BetaNYC staff. This position aims to deepen your experience in and with New York City government, municipal data, mapping, communication tools, teaching, developing curriculum, and managing fellows. Additionally, associates will enhance BetaNYC’s ability to develop and seed new curriculum, conduct trainings, publish, explore and develop new partnerships, and grow organizationally.
Required Qualifications:
- Exposure to urban planning, data analytics, or BetaNYC’s Civic Innovation Fellowship program.
- A bachelor’s degree (by time of appointment) or equivalent work experience.
Responsibilities:
- Primary Responsibilities
- Support Research and Data Assistance Requests as needed.
- Support BetaNYC existing digital projects and tools, develop new tools as needed.
- Support Civic Innovation Fellows lectures, provide guidance to students to complete their assignments.
- During designated hours, help troubleshoot technical or conceptual problems, introduce new topics, keep track of their attendance and general productivity, and supervise.
- If a fellow appears to be experiencing any personal issue, seek BetaNYC senior staff to consult with fellow.
- Weekly check in with BetaNYC senior staff around:
- Fellows’ status / progress
- Tools and RADARs
- Analyze data, explore platforms, and conduct research for new digital products and policy.
- Manage communications with various stakeholders groups, including elected officials, government agencies, community board members, community organizations, and private sector partners.
- Provide project management coordination on assigned projects.
- Secondary Responsibilities
- Support Civic Innovation Fellowship alumni engagement.
- Support the CIF by serving as a liaison to MBPO staff and internship coordinator (when needed).
- When necessary, assist in the development of new curriculum and new data journeys.
- Assist at public open data trainings.
- Present at community events to promote BetaNYC’s work
Skills:
- Enthusiasm for subject matter. A can-do solution oriented attitude. Thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Self-starter able to see what needs to get done and motivate individuals to get it done.
- Be comfortable accessing, reading, manipulating, cleaning, summarizing, and explaining NYC open data.
- Exhibit patience when teaching technology concepts or open data analysis to others.
- Proficiency and skill using the following software for data analysis and visualization: Socrata, Google Sheets/Excel, QGIS, ArcGIS Online for Developers, Carto, R/R Studio, and creating ArcGIS Story Maps. Python, intermediate/advanced programming, and intermediate/advanced AirTable a huge plus.
- Attention to detail in your communications, scheduling, interviews, research, and documentation.
- Punctual to meetings, phone calls, and online correspondence. Respect for deadlines.
- Strong organizational skills. Ability to work in a small team, articulate personal needs, work to address collectively defined goals, and collaborate on the defined mission.
- Strong written and verbal communicator. Must be able to present needs and ideas in memos. Ability to breakdown projects into digestible concepts.
- Understanding of the following technologies: Google Docs — text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; Microsoft Office — Word, Excel, including Excel functions, PowerPoint; Slack; GitHub; office management tools like shared calendars, email applications, and web/internet conferencing technology; Basic HTML or Markdown.
- Knowledge of agile methodologies, open source technology, and civic tech movement
- Willingness to work with government stakeholders and/or experience working within government.
Position reports to: BetaNYC’s Civic Innovation Lab Manager, with additional direction provided by BetaNYC’s Executive Director, or other BetaNYC staff members.
Hourly Compensation: up to $21.50 per hour.
Employment though the Fund for the City of New York.