Senior Research Assistant

Title: Senior Research Assistant

Department: Social Sciences

Duration: 6 months

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director, this 20 hours per week Senior Research Assistant serves during the summer of 2024, with the potential for extension. Supports research for multiple high-profile housing and transportation policy projects including understanding the impact of landlord characteristics on tenant affordability and habitability outcomes in California; assessing the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program; and understanding the relationship between working from home and migration, among other projects. The position is based in Los Angeles, but with some flexibility for remote work. The position may include some travel for site visits in California and conference / workshop presentations.

Job Duties

• 20% - Conduct housing policy and transportation research in line with project goals. - (Essential)
• 30% - Lead workstream with some guidance, including data gathering and cleaning, data analysis, writing up results, and presenting them to team and external audiences. - (Essential)
• 30% - Write reports, policy briefs, journal articles, conference papers, and media pieces highlighting research results. - (Essential)
• 20% - Maintain communication with other team members and maintain notes, code, and file organization. Present findings in team meetings. - (Essential)
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, public policy, geography, economics, sociology, statistics, computer science or relevant field.
• One year of experience conducting research.
• Experience and excellent ability in constructing, processing, cleaning, managing, and analyzing extremely large datasets, using data management software (R, Python, SQL, etc.). Expertise in statistical analysis and/or econometrics using standard software such as Stata, R, SAS, etc.
• Expertise in GIS (ArcGIS or QGIS, etc.), including mapping, geostatistical analysis, and data management.
• Ability to write to an educated audience.
• Ability to analyze, synthesize and organize data, and present findings in a comprehensible manner for different audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google drives/folders/forms, Adobe Acrobat, Web Editing, and social media applications or any combination of productivity programs applicable to position responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and thorough; skilled at anticipating and preventing potential problems and handling a wide variety of tasks with efficiency and accuracy.
• Strong commitment to a quality work product.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally, in writing and electronically.
• Effective interpersonal skills as evidenced in the ability to collaborate with a variety of constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, inclusion & diversity.
• Demonstrated skill in adapting to and performing work effectively in high-volume, high accountability, confidential environment with multiple and changing priorities.
• Effective organizational, logistical, time management and planning skills with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks/projects simultaneously, prioritize and fulfill the functions of an office in a timely manner.
• Ability to self-motivate and work independently.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and training, and to work effectively and professionally across functions, disciplines, levels, and with diverse groups.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or progress toward master’s or PhD in relevant fields.
• Two years of post-college work experience relevant to the position.
  
  

EXPECTED HIRING RANGE: $30.00/hr