Civic Design Researcher
Salary undisclosed
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Job Summary
This position is located in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Innovation and Performance Administration (IPA). The mission of DDOT is to equitably deliver a safe, sustainable, and reliable multimodal transportation network for all residents and visitors of the District of Columbia. IPA leads the agency’s data-driven approach to process, decision-making, and innovation.
The Lab @ DDOT was created to expand DDOT’s capacity to deliver user-friendly services, evidence-based policies, and actionable research insights. The Lab @ DDOT collaborates closely with The Lab @ DC and approaches its projects in four ways, often used in combination to maximize impact and make the most of our learning opportunities: randomized evaluations; predictive modeling; resident-centered design; and administrative data analysis. The Civic Design Researcher understands that service delivery requires rigorous research, skilled design, iteration, meaningful community engagement, and careful implementation. None of these activities is neutral. Whether government is creating an application form for a residential disability parking permit or experimenting with a new program to support e-bike purchases, government is projecting its values. Government is removing or putting up barriers to service and honoring or diminishing a resident’s personhood. Our civic design team supports DDOT in recognizing this power and guides collaboration and design to ensure equitable outcomes for all.
Duties And Responsibilities
Contributes to DDOT’s empathetic human-centered design approach to projects of limited scope that promote equitable services for all District residents, commuters, and visitors. This means prototyping, testing, and iterating on DDOT services by considering their needs, motivations, and pain points. Fosters a culture that infuses civic design, community engagement, and user-testing best practices into the core of how DDOT delivers work. Helps project teams make the design process accessible to non-designers and brings DDOT staff and community stakeholders along to approach problem solving from a human-centered design and evaluation perspective. Supports conversations with residents, commuters, and visitors to better understand the problems DDOT faces and to get feedback on possible solutions. Collaboratively develops and implements reasonable project plans with clear deliverables, milestones, and deadlines for on-time completion. Effectively communicates about DDOT projects to a diverse audience, including scientific experts, government practitioners, residents, and policymakers.
Designs, and implements new collaborative procedures and workflows that promote clarity about the status of work. Ensures that their own work products adhere to open science best practices and protect confidential data, with guidance from supervisor. Plans and organizes civic design assignments with oversight and informs supervisor of issues or problems. Identifies and works with others to navigate through ambiguity and project challenges. Proactively provides ideas and critical feedback—as well as being open to such constructive dialogue—as part of constantly improving DDOT and its collective work output. Helps to disseminate lessons, tools, and best practices across DDOT and District government.
Qualifications And Education
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
Licenses and Certifications
None
Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an office setting. However, attendance at designated meetings on days, evenings, and weekends may be required.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Varies
Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential
Type of Appointment: This is a Career Service Term Appointment--Not to exceed 3 years
Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0101-12
Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under a collective bargaining unit.
Position Designation: The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability - Security Sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.
Benefits May Include
DDOT is an employer of choice for any job seeker who has passion, energy, and enthusiasm about our city. Employee benefits include:
Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, homeless status, and/or victims or family members of victims of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking.
This position is located in the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Innovation and Performance Administration (IPA). The mission of DDOT is to equitably deliver a safe, sustainable, and reliable multimodal transportation network for all residents and visitors of the District of Columbia. IPA leads the agency’s data-driven approach to process, decision-making, and innovation.
The Lab @ DDOT was created to expand DDOT’s capacity to deliver user-friendly services, evidence-based policies, and actionable research insights. The Lab @ DDOT collaborates closely with The Lab @ DC and approaches its projects in four ways, often used in combination to maximize impact and make the most of our learning opportunities: randomized evaluations; predictive modeling; resident-centered design; and administrative data analysis. The Civic Design Researcher understands that service delivery requires rigorous research, skilled design, iteration, meaningful community engagement, and careful implementation. None of these activities is neutral. Whether government is creating an application form for a residential disability parking permit or experimenting with a new program to support e-bike purchases, government is projecting its values. Government is removing or putting up barriers to service and honoring or diminishing a resident’s personhood. Our civic design team supports DDOT in recognizing this power and guides collaboration and design to ensure equitable outcomes for all.
Duties And Responsibilities
Contributes to DDOT’s empathetic human-centered design approach to projects of limited scope that promote equitable services for all District residents, commuters, and visitors. This means prototyping, testing, and iterating on DDOT services by considering their needs, motivations, and pain points. Fosters a culture that infuses civic design, community engagement, and user-testing best practices into the core of how DDOT delivers work. Helps project teams make the design process accessible to non-designers and brings DDOT staff and community stakeholders along to approach problem solving from a human-centered design and evaluation perspective. Supports conversations with residents, commuters, and visitors to better understand the problems DDOT faces and to get feedback on possible solutions. Collaboratively develops and implements reasonable project plans with clear deliverables, milestones, and deadlines for on-time completion. Effectively communicates about DDOT projects to a diverse audience, including scientific experts, government practitioners, residents, and policymakers.
Designs, and implements new collaborative procedures and workflows that promote clarity about the status of work. Ensures that their own work products adhere to open science best practices and protect confidential data, with guidance from supervisor. Plans and organizes civic design assignments with oversight and informs supervisor of issues or problems. Identifies and works with others to navigate through ambiguity and project challenges. Proactively provides ideas and critical feedback—as well as being open to such constructive dialogue—as part of constantly improving DDOT and its collective work output. Helps to disseminate lessons, tools, and best practices across DDOT and District government.
Qualifications And Education
Degree: behavioral or social science; or related disciplines appropriate to the position.
OR
Combination of education and experience that provided the applicant with knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
OR
Four years of appropriate experience that demonstrated that the applicant has acquired knowledge of one or more of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a major in the field.
Specialized Experience: Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.
Licenses and Certifications
None
Work Environment
Work is typically performed in an office setting. However, attendance at designated meetings on days, evenings, and weekends may be required.
Other Significant Facts
Tour of Duty: Varies
Promotional Potential: No known promotion potential
Type of Appointment: This is a Career Service Term Appointment--Not to exceed 3 years
Pay Plan, Series and Grade: CS-0101-12
Collective Bargaining Unit: This position is not covered under a collective bargaining unit.
Position Designation: The incumbent of this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability - Security Sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.
Benefits May Include
DDOT is an employer of choice for any job seeker who has passion, energy, and enthusiasm about our city. Employee benefits include:
- Health and life insurance benefits and retirement benefits (More information about these benefits is available on the D.C. Department of Human Resources (DCHR) website at www.dchr.dc.gov.)
- Complimentary Capital Bikeshare Membership
- Continued professional development, and professional growth through d.University, the in-house training available for all DDOT employees
- Flexible work schedule (team and role dependent)
- Employer assisted housing loan program, providing payment and/or closing cost financing for first-time home buyers (restrictions apply)
Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.
EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, homeless status, and/or victims or family members of victims of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking.
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