Project Analyst (Financial Services Specialist 1 (Policy Analysis), Sg-18)

Preferred Qualifications

• Planning and administration responsibilities.
• Analysis of policies and procedures affecting business and/or regulation.
• Planning and coordination of events and ongoing programs.

Appointment method:
Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications listed below in order to be eligible for appointment.
Non-Competitive: A Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Business Administration, Economics, Econometrics, Finance, Health, Health Administration, Health Policy, Law, Mathematics, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Risk Management or Statistics and two (2) years of specialized experience in one or more of the following:

• Research and analysis of State and federal statutes and regulations and their effects upon the business activities of financial services entities with regard to the public and/or other financial services entities.
• Research, planning, administration, and/or analysis of the policies and procedures affecting regulated entities and how they conduct business activities with the public and/or other regulated entities.

A Master’s Degree in one (1) of the related fields or a J.D. may substitute for one (1) year of specialized experience. A Ph.D. in one (1) of the related fields may substitute for two (2) years of specialized experience.

The New York State Department of Financial Services seeks to build an equitable, more transparent and resilient financial system that benefits New Yorkers and supports business. Through engagement, data-driven regulation, and operational excellence, DFS is responsible for empowering consumers and protecting them from financial harm; ensuring the health and stability of the financial entities we regulate; and driving economic growth through responsible innovation.
The Department of Financial Services (DFS) is seeking applicants for a role in its Innovation Policy Unit (IPU), housed in the Division of Research and Innovation. This position represents a chance to tackle cutting-edge policy issues in financial services in New York, including those related to fintech, insurtech, cryptocurrency, decentralized finance, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning by the industry.
The Innovation Policy Unit is charged with maintaining best practices for policy review and development; performing qualitative and quantitative research to inform DFS decision-making and influence internal and external stakeholders; conducting policy reviews of innovation topics; maintaining an external engagement program with innovators; and hosting and attending innovation-related outreach events. The Project Analyst will support the project management needs of the various policy analysts across the IPU, and will help ensure that policy projects are being conceptualized, researched, and delivered in operationally-effective and consistent ways.
The position entails refining and implementing a standard approach to plan, track and report on the performance of multiple ongoing policy projects. The position will support managers, analysts, and project leads with the completion of project objectives, including effectively managing project risks. In addition, the Project Analyst will help streamline processes to produce more efficient progress overall.
Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Prepares or directs the preparation of reports and other material necessary to implement policy recommendations;
• Identifies the problems or factors inhibiting the achievement of project goals and offers administrative or operational solutions to project leads;
• Compiles, tracks and analyzes IPU performance measure data and provides information to management, if requested; and
• Performs duties in support of IPU performance improvement initiatives such as planning and facilitating process improvement events and trainings; analyzing data and performance; preparing and presenting specific studies, surveys, projects and documentation.
• Provides technical assistance in implementing new or revised administrative processes;
• Reviews and updates policy, administrative and procedural manuals;
• Under the direction of project leads and managers, helps to write periodic progress reports containing findings and recommendations; may make oral presentations to agency officials and other concerned parties to answer questions regarding the project and its implementation;
• Supports policy analysts on developing a detailed project plan considering the objectives, timelines, responsible parties, stakeholders, and potential challenges to be solved;
• Documents any revisions to overall project plans and reports out on those revisions to project leads and managers to improve and address overall project objectives;
• Supports the collection of pertinent data through various means such as interviews, conferences, questionnaires, reports and on-site observations;
• Implements and conducts quality reviews for the records management program for filing, protection, and retrieval of records;
• Reviews, designs and controls organizational forms for internal or external use;