Data Analyst

About the Role

Join the Defender Association of Philadelphia as a Data Analyst within the Police Accountability Unit (PAU). This position involves comprehensive analysis of policing data to aid in data-driven decision making that supports criminal defense efforts and public policy advocacy. The successful candidate will transform complex data into actionable insights, assisting attorneys and policymakers in Philadelphia.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with attorneys, policy analysts, and paralegals to compile and distill broad statistical data for internal reports, grant proposals, and external communications to stakeholders like the criminal defense bar, City Council, and community groups.
• Work alongside experts in criminology, sociology, and data science on projects related to policing, indigent defense, and the justice system.
• Gather, interpret, and analyze both internal and external datasets to support client representation, policy formulation, and public discussions concerning police accountability.
• Examine aggregated police-related data (e.g., stop and frisk records, police complaints, crime incidents) in context with current events and policy changes to identify trends and inform courtroom strategies.
• Prepare detailed statistical reports as exhibits for criminal cases and provide testimony to explain these findings in court.
• Develop data pipelines to extract, clean, and transform public and confidential data, generating consistent and insightful reports and visualizations.
• Create and maintain organizational systems that make data analyses accessible and clear for team members.
• Coordinate with internal teams, including legal and IT, to ensure compliance with data governance and organizational policies.
• Offer statistical commentary on external reports to ensure accurate interpretation and uphold the Defender's positions in public discourse.
• Assist other Defender units with statistical analysis as needed.

Required Qualifications

• Educational background: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Criminology, Data Science, Statistics, Public Policy, Sociology, Economics, or closely related fields.
• Proficiency in statistical analysis tools such as R, Python, or SPSS.
• Experience managing data operations and constructing pipelines to produce analytical reports.
• Familiarity with data visualization software, particularly Tableau.
• Basic knowledge of querying databases using SQL.
• At least one year of professional or academic data analysis experience.
• Competency in all research phases: project design, data collection planning, execution, management, statistical analysis, and reporting to stakeholders.
• Knowledge of statistical methods including linear regression analysis.
• Driven by curiosity and self-initiative to explore new insights and stay abreast of emerging methods and best practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication capabilities, with the skill to explain data processes to audiences of varied technical backgrounds.
• Exceptional organizational and time management skills.
• Commitment to client confidentiality and the mission of effective legal representation.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual salary of $64,000.
• Comprehensive medical benefits including employer-paid vision, dental, life, and long-term disability insurance.
• Generous paid time off entitlement: 25 days annually, plus federal holidays.
• Separate dedicated sick leave policy and wellness programs supporting physical and mental health.
• Paid parental leave for up to 10 weeks.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching contributions.
• Free SEPTA All-Access Key commuting card.
• Union representation by AFSCME, District Council 47, Local 3190.
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).
• A mission-driven workplace culture focused on meaningful impact, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Additional Information

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is a community-focused legal organization dedicated to ensuring fair defense regardless of income. Their team includes over 500 professionals working toward a just and equitable legal system.