Data Specialist

Job ID: 51103

Job Category: Engineering & Technical

Division & Section: Parks, Forestry & Recreation, PFR Bus & Technology Transformation

Work Location: Metro Hall, 55 John Street (Hybrid)

Job Type & Duration: Temporary, Full-Time, 12 month vacancy

Salary: $93,734.00 - $123,449.00

Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 hours per week

Affiliation: Non-Union

Number of Positions Open: 1

Posting Period: 14-Nov-2024 to 28-Nov-2024

Job Summary

Reporting to the Program Manager, Capital Projects PF&R, this position will help to guide policies/procedures regarding program specific requirements, with a heavy focus on asset data as PF&R transitions to a new asset management system. The successful candidates will help to consolidate data sets, improve data quality, enhance data analysis, optimize business processes and guide innovative and strategic planning. They will bring creative and innovative approaches and techniques to large-scale divisional datasets, making recommendations and implementing improvements to the system, supporting data pipelines, ETLs/ELTs, and statistical and inferential analysis. Through collaboration with corporate partners, you will ensure high performance of large amounts of ETL as well as ELT tasks, report building, analytics, and data visualization support. The role will give PF&R the ability to harness the power of data for strategic decision-making, operational efficiency, and improved service value. 

Major Responsibilities:

Data Management & Technical Responsibilities

• Leads tasks and projects related to the modelling, analysis, and interpretation of divisional and other spatial datasets.
• Designs, tests, and builds complex models to solve complex divisional analytics problems, identifying opportunities for using advanced statistical and predictive modelling techniques.
• Builds processes and methods to ingest, transform, and analyze large datasets from structured and unstructured data sources (e.g., GPS-probe data, sensor-based data).
• Identifies source systems, analyzes source data for quality and completeness, and prepares data dictionaries and data collection sheets.
• Develops processes for monitoring and ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of data across various systems.
• Defines mapping of data elements from source systems to the appropriate fields.
• Implements ETL/ELT processes to support data integration and accessibility.
• Investigates and implements advanced data processing techniques.
• Establishes and applies best practices in documenting data processes, models, and code.
• Transforms and cleanses data as needed to ensure compatibility with Maximo's data structure and organization needs & standards.
• Identifies the Source Systems, understands functionality and data structure, analyzes source data for quality and completeness. Preparation of data dictionaries from the source systems. Prepares data collection sheets as required.
• Makes recommendations and implement improvements to the system to optimize computation and storage resources for data.
• Serves as a subject matter expert on decisions or questions related to data analytics and modelling.
• Defines mapping of data elements from source systems to the corresponding fields in Maximo
• Explores, analyses, and advises the Team Lead and Manager on the value and applications of, and challenges associated with, emerging datasets.

Data Governance & Compliance

• Establishes and maintains data governance policies and standards to ensure compliance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
• Manages data access permissions and roles, ensuring data security and confidentiality.
• Ensures adherence to data retention policies and procedures.
• Addresses data discrepancies and inconsistencies by working closely with data owners and stakeholders.
• Monitors and evaluates the functionality of data applications, making recommendations for improvements.

Project Management & Change Management Skills

• Develops, implements, and evaluates work plans for divisional data projects and tasks; including data migration plans aligned with EAM system implementation.
• Ensures conformance to organizational data governance standards and participate in the development of data related policies and standards.
• Works with project teams, key business and IT stakeholders to implement an EAM system.
• Provides input into budget administration and ensures expenditures stay within budget limits.
• Implements detailed plans and recommends policies and procedures regarding program requirements.
• Monitors and evaluates the functionality of applications developed at the Division and makes recommendations for enhancements.
• Ensures compliance with safety and security matters under Occupational Health & Safety legislation and Divisional safety and security policies.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Works with internal and external partners and private sector to collect and analyze data on behalf of the Division, ensuring alignment with business requirements.
• Prepares reports, dashboards and submissions (e.g. briefing notes, staff reports, and other correspondences) for the Division and City Council.
• Develops strategies to ensure information is available and accessible for stakeholders including Council, the public, and staff.
• Provides training and support to staff on data usage and best practices.
• Fosters and maintains effective working relationships and networks with divisional staff, other government agencies, and other data science professionals.
• Attends and presents at conferences and technical working groups, spatial analytics, data analysis, and/or machine learning.

Data Tools & Technologies

• Leverages data management and analytics tools (e.g., SQL, PowerBI, Tableau, Python) to enhance data processing and reporting capabilities.
• Configures data-related features in various software to optimize data management capabilities.
• Evaluates new data management tools and technologies to improve existing processes.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary education in Civil Engineering, Computer Science, mathematics, or a related quantitative field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Extensive experience in data management principles and practices, including data governance, data quality assurance, data integration, and data analysis.
3. Extensive experience with Data Management tools and technologies, including analytics and visualization tools (SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau). Familiarity with ETL/ELT processes for data integration an asset.
4. Experience in conducting peer and literature reviews on data modeling and analysis techniques.
5. Experience designing data models, maintaining data architecture, supporting data workflows, data mapping, and managing data pipelines for structured and unstructured data. Asset data management an asset.
6. Experience applying project management processes and methodologies to execute, monitor, and control project delivery across teams.
7. Considerable experience facilitating sessions with stakeholders and coordinating cross-functional teams (IT, operations, maintenance, Capital etc.).
8. Experience in extraction of data from source systems, transforming and cleansing source data as needed to ensure compatibility with data structures and organization needs and standards.
9. Highly developed written and oral communication skills including writing reports, briefing notes, and delivering presentations.
10. Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess complex data requirements and develop solutions, troubleshooting and resolving issues related to EAM systems data and functionality.
11. Demonstrated knowledge of data privacy regulations, compliance for data management, data retention and data access permissions.
12. Knowledge of current and emerging technologies.
13. Familiarity with Toronto Public Service values and ability to support an ethical, supportive and respectful workplace culture that champions equity, diversity and inclusion.
14. Must be familiar with safety and security matters under Occupational Health & Safety legislation and Divisional safety and security policies.
15. Ability to travel to various locations as required within the City of Toronto, included Parks and Parks yards, as required.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.