Economic Analyst

Mission Edge•San Diego, CA

About The Position

The Economic Analyst at the Policy & Innovation Center (PIC) conducts qualitative and quantitative research on regional issues, including climate resilience, economic mobility, and community wellbeing. The role combines community interviews in English and Spanish with data analysis to develop findings, reports, and tools used by city, county, and community leaders. The analyst works with PIC’s research team, carries out hands-on research, and may contribute ideas for answering research questions. The position reports to the Director of Research and works alongside PIC’s Chief Economist, three PhD-level economists, and another Economic Analyst. It is a full-time temporary position, 40 hours per week, on a three-month W-2 contract, with a potential option to renew. Compensation is $30 per hour. The position is not benefits-eligible. Some interviews may need to be scheduled outside normal business hours, including evenings or weekends.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or a related social science.
About one year of research experience; internships, research assistant roles, and thesis work count.
Professional spoken fluency in Spanish to conduct research interviews; native-level fluency is preferred.
Experience conducting interviews and analyzing qualitative data, including thematic coding.
Emotional intelligence, cultural competency, and commitment to centering the voices of historically marginalized communities.
Strong writing and communication skills, including the ability to turn what people share into clear findings.
Working knowledge of R or Stata, with R preferred; strong Excel skills; and familiarity with public data sources such as the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or CA EDD.
Grounding in economic principles, social science research design, and basic econometrics.
Ability to use AI tools strategically and efficiently while applying independent judgment, analysis, and voice.
Self-motivation and ability to carry out direction independently while knowing when to ask questions.
Attention to detail, ability to manage multiple deadlines, and flexibility to occasionally work evenings or weekends.

Nice To Haves

Qualtrics experience.
Experience with qualitative analysis software such as NVivo, Dedoose, or ATLAS.ti.
GIS experience.
Tableau experience.
Grant-writing experience.
Native-level Spanish fluency.

Responsibilities

Write interview schedules and conduct interviews in English and Spanish with community members and stakeholders, including native Spanish speakers.
Perform thematic coding and qualitative analysis, and synthesize findings into clear themes and insights.
Design and program surveys in Qualtrics.
Collect, clean, and maintain PIC’s public and proprietary datasets, ensuring data quality.
Run statistical analyses and create data visualizations, summaries, and briefs.
Provide demographic and economic data to PIC colleagues and manage incoming research requests.
Gather and synthesize academic and policy literature.
Draft, proofread, and edit sections of reports and publications.
Help identify grant opportunities and support grant writing.
Occasionally schedule interviews outside normal business hours, including evenings or weekends, to respond to community needs.