About Sightline Institute

Founded in 1993, Sightline Institute is committed to making Cascadia — the binational region stretching from Alaska to northern California and the Pacific to the Rocky Mountains — a global model of sustainability, with strong communities, a green economy, and a healthy environment. Sightline is one of the region’s premier public policy think tanks, influencing legislation many times and media coverage hundreds of times each year.

In our programs on climate and energy, housing and cities, and democracy and elections, we identify and promote reforms that yield outsized improvements for the region’s people and places. We believe sustainability exists at the intersection of environmental health and social justice and have an organization-wide commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more at www.sightline.org.

About the Opportunity

Sightline is seeking a British Columbia–based part-time contributor to help advance our housing policy work in the province. The ideal contributor is an intellectually curious researcher and writer who cares deeply about urbanism and housing — someone eager to dig into the policy details and learn the landscape. This could be a great fit for an early-career candidate with strong research and writing instincts and a genuine interest in how cities grow and change. Or it could be a role for someone well into their career, with a well-established track-record as a researcher/writer. Sightline’s team will provide mentorship, content guidance, and close direction on where to focus.

Key Responsibilities

• Research housing policy issues in British Columbia at the local and province level, including zoning, land use, permitting, and related reforms, drawing on Sightline’s existing body of work and guidance from the broader team.
• Write articles, policy memos, explainers, and other content that communicates research findings clearly and accessibly to a range of audiences.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments in BC relevant to housing and urbanism and keep the Sightline team informed.
• Identify promising policy angles, data sources, and story opportunities in the BC context.
• Coordinate regularly with Sightline’s Housing and Cities team to align on priorities and integrate BC–focused work into the broader program.
• Provide periodic updates on the BC housing policy landscape and progress toward shared goals.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Strong research and writing skills, with the ability to translate complex policy topics into clear, compelling prose.
• Genuine interest in urbanism, housing, land use, or related fields.
• Familiarity with British Columbia’s political and policy environment is helpful but not required.
• Curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to learn
• Early-career candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Commitment to Sightline’s mission and values, including our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Compensation and Engagement Terms

This is an independent contractor engagement. Compensation will be negotiated based on scope of work and experience. We expect the role will take somewhat less than half time, though varying over the year. This position does not include employee benefits. Contractors are responsible for their own tax obligations, including any applicable GST/HST remittances, if applicable. Sightline offers a competitive range of pay for independent contractors.

Location

We are seeking candidates based in British Columbia, with a preference for greater Vancouver, because it is the province’s principal metropolis. Sightline is a virtual-first organization; this contributor will work remotely, with regular coordination with Sightline’s Housing and Cities team.

To Apply

Please visit https://www.sightline.org/about/careers/ to apply.

Please submit a

• cover letter
• resume
• A brief (2-4 page) writing sample that showcases your ability to write clearly, succinctly, and persuasively, ideally in a style similar to Sightline’s (which you can find many samples of here: Housing + Cities | Sightline Institute). Our preference is for writing samples that include analysis or recommendations related to a public policy issue (housing or otherwise). Please include a 1-sentence description at the top of the writing sample that explains original context for the sample (e.g., a class, a job, etc.) Sightline takes excellent quality research and writing extremely seriously—we're a think tank!--so your writing sample is a key factor in your evaluation.

Please assemble all application materials in a single PDF with the naming convention LastName_FirstName_Position. Applications that do not include a cover letter, resume, and writing sample will not be considered. Please click Apply, fill out the form and submit your materials.

The position is open until filled. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis, and we will likely invite finalists to complete a work assignment that is designed to test their skills in the specific functions required for the position. We are looking to hire someone as soon as possible.

Sightline Institute is an equal opportunity organization, and all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected ground under applicable human rights legislation.