Research Assistant | Water
About The Position
Research assistants meaningfully contribute to Metropolitan Planning Council’s equity-focused urban planning and public policy initiatives. This entry-level role provides high-quality research, writing, analytical, and project support across policy areas such as zoning and land use, transportation , housing and community development, green infrastructure and water use . Th is role will support MPC’s water policy initiatives, including research related to water governance, and regionalization in Illinoi s . This role will contribute to policy briefs, stakeholder convening, and other exploratory research to inform MPC’s program and partner initiatives. This position requires approximately 24-30 hours per week, running from April to September 2026, based on a mutually agreed upon schedule . Staff work in-office at least twice a week from our Chicago Headquarters, with remote work on other days.
Requirements
- Strong research, analytical, and writing skills
- Ability to clearly communicate complex policy issues to diverse audiences
- Effective project management and multitasking skills
- Able to work independently and collaboratively
- Strong attention to detail
- Interest in water resources, infrastructure systems, governance , or environmental and public policy
- Experience collecting, organizing, or managing datasets
Nice To Haves
- Familiarity with basic data analysis, mapping, or visualization tools (such as R or Python)
- A bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, urban planning , o ther relevant field , or depth of equivalent experi ence is preferred
Responsibilities
- Conduct background and comparative policy research
- Analyze and synthesize complex planning and infrastructure topics
- Identify best practices and implementation models
- Prepare concise research briefs, memos, and presentation materials
- Support stakeholder engagement, meeting preparation, and coordination
- Contribute to implementation planning and evaluation efforts
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
