Research Assistant | Housing

Metropolitan Planning Council•Chicago, IL

14d•$18•Hybrid

About The Position

Metropolitan Planning Council is seeking a Research Assistant to support a statewide housing research initiative co-led with the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, focused on identifying and understanding barriers to housing production across Illinois’ diverse regions. The project combines quantitative and qualitative research with statewide stakeholder engagement to develop a data-driven framework that explains how housing supply challenges vary across geographies and markets. In this role, the Research Assistant will primarily support qualitative research and analysis activities, including background research, interviews, synthesis of findings, and preparation of research materials, while also providing support for coordination and stakeholder engagement as needed. This independent contractor position requires a time commitment of approximately 20 hours per week for 26 weeks, with the possibility of extension based on project needs and performance. The start date is flexible, with a preference for an April or May start. This role is well suited for graduate students, advanced undergraduates, or early-career professionals seeking hands-on experience supporting applied policy research and statewide engagement. All candidates must be based in the State of Illinois. This is a hybrid or fully remote role, depending on the Research Assistant’s location within the state. Candidates based in Central or Downstate Illinois are strongly encouraged to apply. For Research Assistants based in the Chicago region, the role includes an expectation of in-person work at MPC’s Chicago office for meetings and collaboration as needed, approximately 8 hours per week. For Research Assistants based outside the Chicago region, the role may be performed fully remotely, with in-person work focused on fieldwork and meetings in their region as needed.

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
Professional and comfortable working with multiple collaborators
Experience supporting research, analysis, or policy projects through academic, internship, or professional experience
Demonstrated ability to collect, organize, and synthesize information from multiple sources
Experience with research documentation, note-taking, or analytic support

Nice To Haves

Experience or coursework related to housing policy, urban planning, public policy, economics, or related fields is preferred but not required.
A bachelor’s degree in public policy, urban planning, political science, economics, or a related field is preferred but not required
Enrollment in, or completion of, a graduate program is desirable but not required
Academic or internship experience may substitute for professional experience

Responsibilities

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