Lead Researcher, Behavioral Health

About The Office

MOCJ is the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, which advises the Mayor of the City of New York on criminal justice policy. It develops and implements strategies with partners inside and outside government to reduce crime and incarceration, promote fairness and legitimacy, and build safe neighborhoods through data‑driven initiatives.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Research Innovations and part of the Policy Unit, the Lead Researcher for Behavioral Health will drive the development, evaluation, and communication of data‑driven policy solutions related to behavioral health and trauma for justice‑involved people. The role includes leveraging evidence, crafting a research agenda, creating therapeutic messages for trainings and curricula, and maintaining relationships with research and community partners.

• Generate a strategic behavioral health and trauma research agenda to drive policies that reduce violence and improve outcomes for justice‑involved people and families.
• Leverage existing evidence on behavioral health and trauma to further violence reduction.
• Design and adapt curricula and structured solutions to deliver therapeutic supports.
• Translate and communicate research to a wide audience to inform policy and partners.
• Partner with program staff, communities, and justice‑involved people to weave research‑derived insights into effective solutions.
• Develop meaningful indicators for policy issues and embed them in existing data dashboards.
• Conceptualize and manage funded studies with external research partners.
• Identify creative ways to make causal inferences for large, multi‑faced policy questions.
• Prepare insights for publication or internal use as appropriate.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent education and experience.
• Associate degree with two years of administrative, analytic, coordinative, supervisory or liaison responsibilities; or four years of experience with a four‑year high school diploma or equivalent.
• Satisfactory combination of education and experience as described above.

• PhD in psychology or related discipline; five years of professional experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of therapeutic, cognitive behavioral, and trauma insights.
• Research experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods; preferred.
• Detailed knowledge of structured behavioral health curricula.
• Experience adapting evidence‑based practice to group‑based distinctiveness.
• Experience working with justice‑involved or other marginalized populations.
• Ability to generate and drive projects from conception to implementation, identify gaps, partners, and analytical strategy.
• Experience generating a cohesive research agenda and detailed knowledge of research in relevant fields (e.g., decision making, social‑emotional learning, motivation, emotion regulation, anxiety, avoidance).
• Ability to balance competing priorities, complex situations, and tight deadlines; think outside the box and develop novel strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present data and research.
• Attention to detail and clear direction-taking ability.

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. City employees who have worked for the City for two continuous years may also be eligible to reside in selected nearby counties. Discuss residency with the agency representative at interview.

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or characteristic.

$68,213.00 – $