About the position

The Housing Solutions Lab, based at the NYU Furman Center, seeks a full-time Special Projects Associate. The Lab helps cities across the country to plan, implement, and evaluate promising local housing policies, supporting their efforts through three core program areas: city engagement, research and evaluation, and data and policy analysis. This position will work closely with the Lab’s leadership to develop and implement priority projects and produce materials that advance the Lab’s mission to support housing policymakers and practitioners and build the evidence base to inform equitable local housing policy.

We are looking for a team player with exceptional communication and project management skills to join our collaborative, multidisciplinary team. The Special Projects Associate will manage new policy analysis in priority issue areas and develop briefs, presentations, and other materials for key stakeholders that include practitioners, policymakers, media, and the public. They will help oversee the Lab’s pipeline of policy writing, including by assigning priority levels and timelines to new content and updates to existing tools; tracking progress; and assigning authors and reviewers. While focused primarily on policy analysis, they will also have the opportunity to contribute to the Lab’s direct engagement with cities.

The ideal candidate will have a familiarity with local housing policy, and a passion for learning about the range of policies and challenges that practitioners and policymakers must consider as they work to advance racial equity and improve housing opportunities in their communities. Key qualifications include demonstrated experience with project management; exceptional writing and presentation skills; comfort with communicating quantitative and qualitative evidence; and an interest in supervising and working with graduate students.

Key Responsibilities:

• With Lab leadership, launch and manage new policy research and writing projects, particularly for the Lab’s on-line policy guidance.
• Manage projects by developing and implementing work-plans with students, faculty, and staff, tracking progress and helping manage timelines.
• Conduct policy analysis, and supervise graduate research assistants on literature reviews, policy landscape scans, data analysis, and related tasks.
• Assist with conceptualizing, writing, and updating Lab publications, including research articles, policy briefs, data briefs, presentations, and other written products.
• With Lab and Furman Center staff, engage city leaders, practitioners, researchers, and technical assistance providers, to develop relationships and surface timely research and policy questions.
• With Lab and Furman Center staff, develop periodic webinars, panels, and events for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in relevant field (e.g. Law, Public Policy, Urban Planning)
• 1+ years professional experience in an academic, policy, or government environment related to housing, urban planning, or community development
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Analytical thinking, familiarity with quantitative and qualitative data analysis in a public policy context, and ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and concisely in writing and orally to diverse audiences of practitioners, scholars, and policymakers.
• Experience with and/or interest in advancing evidence-based policy design and research
• Excellent interpersonal skills and comfort working collaboratively with internal teams and external partners
• Ability to multitask, respond to shifting priorities, and meet strict deadlines
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting equity in public policy

Preferred Qualifications:

• Additional years of professional experience in an academic, policy, or government environment related to housing, urban planning, or community development

Compensation and Benefits:
The position comes with a salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, and paid time off. Further information regarding benefits can be found on NYU’s benefits website.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $70,000 – $80,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Location:
This is a hybrid role. The Data and Policy Associate should expect to spend at least three days per week in our New York City office, including days on which we have staff meetings and events.

To Apply:

Submit the following materials to furmanjobs@nyu.edu with “Special Projects Associate, Housing Solutions Lab” in the subject line:

• Cover letter detailing your interest and relevant experience
• Resume or CV
• Writing sample that demonstrates relevant work
• Names and contact information for three references