Policy Analyst, Geospatial Data Science

LINCOLN INSTITUTE OF LAND POLICY • Cambridge, MA

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve the quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. With locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix; and Beijing, we organize our work around six goals: low-carbon, climate-resilient communities and regions; efficient and equitable tax systems; reduced poverty and spatial inequality; fiscally healthy communities and regions; sustainably managed land and water resources; and functional land markets and reduced informality. The Institute conducts research and policy analysis on drivers of land and property value, land-use change, and the suitability for land conservation to help partners design and implement land policy solutions. You will provide research and logistical support to the Executive Director, Research and Cross-Cutting Initiatives and other unit teams within the Institute to prioritize pressing needs and execute analyses related to the role of land in promoting greater equity and social-environmental sustainability. You will contribute to initiatives to leverage geospatial tools, data, and products in service of the Institute’s mission and dissemination efforts of that content via publications, courses, conferences, or workshops. This position is full time (37.5 hours/week) and exempt working regularly in our Cambridge, MA office. This position has been budgeted for a two-year project with the hopes of extension beyond.

Requirements

• Graduate degree in geography, planning, economic policy, or related field; or undergraduate degree with equivalent professional experience.
• 3-5 years of progressive experience in data analysis, including collecting, aggregating, managing, analyzing, and visualizing geospatial data.
• Demonstrated proficiency in statistical, econometric and geospatial analytics with large datasets.
• Experience using Python, R or Stata for statistical analysis.
• Experience using tools for version control (Git, GitHub, GitLab and similar).
• Experience using ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Pro or equivalent GIS software and its extensions.
• Critical thinking/problem solving skills and disposition to propose new/creative approaches to difficult issues.
• Demonstrated capacity to work independently and creatively.
• Demonstrated research skills.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Professional demeanor with positive, collegial, and collaborative leadership skills for multidisciplinary programs.
• Task-oriented work ethic, responsiveness to deadlines, and a commonsense approach to moving projects and agendas forward.
• Integrity and sound judgment.

Nice To Haves

• Spanish and Portuguese strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Produce Prioritize and plan research activities related to housing markets and urban growth in alignment with others
• Assist in developing strategies to employ geospatial data and tools to support various projects, and in translating these findings to various audiences and partners.
• Obtain, organize and process geospatial datasets; work with a variety of spatial data including satellite imagery and aerial photography; national, state and local vector data, and transform into usable formats.
• Develop libraries of code in Python and R for the use in multiple land market and urban growth applications.
• Take initiative to collect new program ideas and explore collaborative programmatic opportunities with other teams and programs across the Institute.
• Help prepare, assemble, and disseminate materials for convenings or other events.
• Partner with staff in other units at Lincoln (particularly with Land and Fiscal Systems, CGS and LAC) to share insights of their project priorities.
• Independently execute assigned tasks, such as spatial data acquisition and analysis, development of maps or other visuals products, writing of research or technical reports, while ensuring that all activities are coordinated and completed on time with internal and external partners.
• Create, quality check, coordinate and update geospatial information for assigned projects.
• Help document and track all program activities; take comprehensives notes at meetings or events.
• Schedule and coordinate internal and external convenings, events, meetings and other gatherings in coordination with Events Team staff.
• Aid special projects and other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%
• health insurance
• dental insurance
• vision insurance
• health reimbursement account
• short-term disability coverage
• long term disability coverage
• paid parental leave
• voluntary insurances such as accident insurance
• health care flexible spending
• dependent care flexible spending
• paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty
• office closure between December 24 – Jan 1 each calendar year
• flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek
• tuition and staff development reimbursement
• pet insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level