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

About the role

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

Responsibilities

• 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).
• Experience 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.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 8 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 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.

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.