Research Assistant – Housing
Metropolitan Planning Council
contract
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Chicago • Illinois • United States
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Salary
💰 $18 per hour
About the role
- Conducting background research, literature reviews, and policy scans related to housing supply, zoning, land use, development costs, permitting processes, and government capacity
- Supporting the collection, review, and analysis of administrative and regulatory data, such as local zoning codes, building codes, permitting data, and other publicly available government datasets
- Assisting with the compilation, cleaning, organization, and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research findings produced by MPC staff and external research partners
- Supporting preparation of research memos, summaries, briefing materials, and working drafts of reports
- Helping document research methods, assumptions, and key findings
- Summarizing insights from interviews, focus groups, and advisory group discussions for integration into research outputs
- Supporting the organization of datasets, notes, and analytic materials
- Supporting logistics and preparation for advisory group meetings, stakeholder interviews, workshops, and regional convenings
- Preparing background materials and detailed meeting notes
- Assisting with scheduling, follow-up, and coordination with partners as needed
- Assisting with preparation and formatting of presentation materials, summaries, and internal research documents
- Supporting efforts to present research findings in clear, accessible ways for different audiences
Requirements
- Detail-oriented and methodical, with strong organizational skills
- Comfortable working with qualitative and/or quantitative information, including publicly available administrative or regulatory data
- A clear and accurate writer, able to summarize complex material
- Curious about housing, land use, and public policy
- Experience or coursework related to housing policy, urban planning, public policy, economics, or related fields is preferred but not required
Benefits
- $35/month transportation subsidy
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
data analysisliterature reviewpolicy analysisqualitative researchquantitative researchdata cleaningdata organizationreport writingpresentation preparationmeeting documentation
Soft Skills
detail-orientedmethodicalorganizational skillsclear writingcuriositycommunicationschedulingcoordinationteam collaborationstakeholder engagement