Senior Data Scientist / Technical Manager, Data Solutions Lab

WHO WE ARE

Terner Labs scales critical housing innovation at the intersection of affordability, equity, and sustainability. As a sister organization of the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, we transform innovative research and policy expertise into actionable tools, programs, and partnerships. We have three main programs: a Housing Venture Lab which supports emerging nonprofit and for profit entrepreneurs, a Data Solutions Lab which builds data tools for policy decision-makers, and a new Builders Lab which will support firms advancing construction methods to produce new housing.

The Data Solutions Lab’s first product, the Housing Policy Simulator (the Simulator), currently piloted within a handful of California jurisdictions, is a powerful analytical tool that overlays a real estate proforma on top of parcel-level land use and regulatory data. This allows researchers and local policymakers to understand how specific housing policies or market inputs – such as changes in building limits, development costs, density bonuses, or market conditions – might impact housing development amounts and patterns across a city or region.

We are expanding the Simulator to serve more cities across the country this year. 

HOW YOU’LL CONTRIBUTE

Terner Labs seeks an entrepreneurial and dynamic Senior Data Scientist /Technical Manager to join the Data Solutions Lab team. In this newly created role, the Senior Data Scientist /Technical Manager will help lead the build out of the Data Solutions Lab’s initial projects, leveraging their project scoping and prioritization experience, data and project management skills, analysis expertise, and policy knowledge. They will bring an energetic and open-minded spirit and thrive within a fast-paced, growing organization.

The Senior Data Scientist /Technical Manager will report to the Data Lab Director and will help coordinate the workflow and day-to-day Simulator construction and improvement tasks of the team’s Data Scientist, two Data Analysts, and Graduate Student Fellows. This position plays an essential role in project managing development and deployment and overseeing improvements to the technical capabilities of our products.  This is an opportune time to join and help shape the future of data-backed evidence in housing policy decisions. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Help build and expand the Terner Housing Policy Simulator using data from city planning departments, public records, industry data, state policy details, and other sources
• Coordinate with the Director to establish weekly tasks and priorities for Data Solutions Lab staff to meet Simulator construction and support timelines. Check in with Data Lab staff on their progress towards weekly goals and assist in addressing roadblocks.
• Assist staff in developing methodology to address new specification requests from Simulator users, including policymakers and researchers.
• Ensure quality and precision of simulation results by supervising and analyzing validation tests. Identify and prioritize methodological fixes, alternative data sources, or assumption adjustments to proactively improve accuracy of the tool. 
• Liaise with partnering researchers, cities, other organizations using the Simulator to understand city-level data sets, intricacies of various policies, methodology specifications, and policy simulation requirements
• Collaborate with an experienced team of technical contractors, partner organizations, graduate students, and Terner Labs staff to implement UX  improvements.

SKILL SETS / MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience scoping projects and setting priorities and workflows across multiple team members or experience serving as a team lead for product development.
• Project management of analytic projects or technology-related tools
• Extensive ability to use Python and Excel 
• Extensive experience in geospatial data analysis and modeling using Geospatial Softwares QGIS, ArcGIS or open-source geospatial libraries such as GeoPandas
• Understanding of factors and decisions affecting real estate development 
• Strong understanding of data cleaning and data validation
• Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn housing policy and the history of past planning practices, including racial exclusion and historical redlining 
• Familiarity with or ability to quickly learn elements of city planning zoning codes, land use policy, and real estate data
• Flexible self-starter comfortable managing multiple deadlines and priorities
• Strong problem solving skills
• Ability to effectively communicate technical information to a variety of audiences
• Inspiring and thoughtful communication style that meets the needs of diverse team members and partners and engenders trust and collaboration.
• Energetic and entrepreneurial mindset.
• 5+ years relevant work experience 
• Relevant masters degree is a plus, but is not required.

Terner Labs is a growing organization. The person serving in this position needs to demonstrate comfort with the dynamism that entails. This means being open to fluidity, being willing to jump in and do what is necessary even if it isn’t in the job description, and being passionate about building the organization in partnership with the leadership team.

We are open to a wide range of past experiences for candidates interested in this role.

This position will be located in Oakland, CA, with opportunities for a hybrid work schedule. 

Terner Labs is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage individuals to apply who bring lived experience with issues of housing affordability and equity. Criminal background checks are not required. 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit your materials here. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. 

The target salary range for this position is $110,000 to $145,000, commensurate with experience. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes: medical, dental, vision, disability, and mental health coverage, as well as 18 vacation days, one sick day a month, 14 paid holidays, and the opportunity to participate in a generous retirement savings plan matching program.