Policy Analyst, Heat Policy Innovation Hub, Nicholas Institute

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

3d • $51,510 - $96,900

About The Position

Duke University: Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.   
Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.
Be You.
At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Policy Analyst with the Heat Policy Innovation Hub (HPIH), you’ll be part of the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, which advances Duke University’s commitment to sustainability and resilience through research, education, and policy engagement.The Heat Policy Innovation Hub leads actionable research and strategic partnerships to advance governance, finance, and public health solutions for extreme heat. Through the Bridging Divides initiative, the Hub quantifies the economic costs of heat-related impacts and translates those findings into decision-ready knowledge tools for policymakers, investors, and communities. Bridging Divides integrates epidemiology, economics, geospatial analysis, and policy translation to shift extreme heat from an abstract climate risk to a measurable financial and governance priority.In this role, you’ll join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team and help transform complex research into insights that inform real-world decisions and strengthen community resilience.
Be Bold.
The Policy Analyst supports the Bridging Divides initiative by contributing to the quantification of heat-related impacts and their associated economic costs. Your work will help elevate extreme heat as a critical public health, economic, and policy issue—informing strategies that improve outcomes for communities across the country and beyond.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as economics, public policy, environmental policy, statistics, data science, geography, or a similar discipline.
• At least two years of experience in policy analysis, research, data analysis, or a related role.
• Economic analysis, cost-of-impact estimation, or benefit-cost analysis
• Strong quantitative skills and experience working with large datasets
• Proficiency in Excel and R, Python, or Stata
• Ability to synthesize and communicate complex findings
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and project management skills

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or other advanced degree preferred.
• Preference for three to four years of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with senior researchers, economists, and data scientists to support development and refinement of economic cost models related to heat exposure
• Conduct systematic literature reviews and evidence synthesis on heat-related impacts and economic burden estimation
• Identify, evaluate, manage, and document datasets including health, mortality, climate, demographic, and labor productivity data
• Support quantitative and geospatial analysis of heat exposure, vulnerability, and impacts
• Assist with benefit-cost analysis and valuation of heat-related impacts and potential interventions
• Translate epidemiological findings into monetized economic impacts
• Prepare technical memos documenting analytical methods, assumptions, and validation steps
• Draft policy briefs, public reports, white papers, legislative summaries, and slide decks
• Translate complex findings into accessible language for non-technical audiences
• Monitor policy developments related to climate adaptation, public health, and economic resilience
• Support decision-support tools for cities and other jurisdictions
• Plan and support workshops, roundtables, and stakeholder briefings
• Assist with grant proposals, reporting, and data governance practices
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate research assistants as appropriate

Benefits

• Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees