Research Coordinator 4 (HFC Director of Center Operations)

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The College of Built Environments has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Coordinator 4 (HFC Director of Center Operations) to join their team. Job Summary: The Research Coordinator 4 (business title: HFC Director of Center Operations (DCO)) will provide Center leadership in collaboration with the Housing Futures Center (HFC) faculty Director and the College of Built Environments (CBE) faculty Director of Research. The HFC Director of Center Operations will participate in all Center activities, including research, education, and engagement, and will also provide administrative oversight. The HFC DCO will be responsible for leading the management of the project teams that conduct the Center’s research, policy, engagement, education, communications, and data work. This role requires a strategic and collaborative leader with strong project management and organizational skills, capable of guiding multiple multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality research and policy analysis. We seek a solutions-oriented individual committed to advancing the Center’s mission through rigorous research, public engagement, and educational excellence. Role's primary complexity: Manage a variety of tasks and projects simultaneously. The HFC has a broad and diverse set of projects underway at any given time, and the HFC DCO will need to help manage and supervise these activities. The ability to gracefully shift between tasks and roles will be essential for someone to thrive in this position. The mission of the HFC is to build capacity in our state to make informed decisions about the housing challenges we face. This mission will be achieved through research, external engagement, and education, all of which align with the priorities of the University of Washington. Given the importance of housing among Washington voters, the HFC provides a clear connection between the University and a topic of great public importance.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Real Estate, Public/Housing Policy, Planning, or a related field and four years of administrative experience in support of a research center, department or program. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Experience analyzing data.
Demonstrated success in managing complex projects, including leading multidisciplinary teams.
Has a strong knowledge of housing systems, including policy, planning, development, and finance.
Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
Experience contributing to complex projects and diverse teams with demonstrated examples of successful completion
Demonstrated commitment to an inclusive working and learning environment
Project management experience, including budget oversight and financial management, staffing, delegation, partner communication, etc.

Nice To Haves

Experience with real estate/housing affordability issues, development, policy and/or other forms of research and analysis related to the housing sector
Deep understanding of the real estate and housing industry
Experience initiating and executing a research project
Ability to analyze and visualize data using tools such as Excel, Tableau and/or other similar software
Experience collaborating with diverse industry stakeholders
Graphic design/representation skills
Non-profit and/or academic experience

Responsibilities

Oversee daily operations of the HFC, including work plans, staffing, external relationships, and financial management.
Oversee project management of all research, policy, and data projects, both ongoing and projected, to ensure timeliness and quality of work of the HFC.
Engage with senior leadership to support center research and operations direction in alignment with existing projects and through solicitation of new projects.
Coordinate across project teams to optimize resource allocation, ensure effective communication, and integrate efforts towards common goals.
Support ongoing HFC administrative needs such as Research Sponsors/Stakeholders, industry partners, and stakeholders from partner organizations for grant management, development, copy editing, writing articles, etc.
Lead and mentor students, researchers, analysts, and policy experts, to encourage a high-performance, supportive, and productive environment and maintain effective communication with all HFC student employees and staff.
Drive continuous improvement and optimization of resources to support efficient and effective Center operations.
Manage HFC budgeting and financial management.
Provide project management support for the research activities of the Center.
Work with Center leadership to ensure all written materials released by the Center meet high standards and are consistent with the goals and mission of the HFC.
Contribute to the development and execution of the HFC’s strategic plan, aligning project goals with the Center’s broader mission.
Conduct research to support the development of accessible, reliable, and trusted housing tools, frameworks, methods, and data, and the adoption of that knowledge in practice.
Develop new knowledge, data, and resources to advance housing-related data and policy.
Participate in and manage project meetings and tasks for research projects.
Contribute to, review, and track center research and reports.
Lead and/or assist in the preparation and review of reports, articles, and presentations to communicate project updates and research results, including visual representations of data.
Collaborate with clients, partners, and UW research teams.
Build capacity for housing work in the Washington community through presentations and training to researchers, students, and interested groups.
Work with the Center faculty Director on stakeholder relations.
Oversee external engagement and events.
Foster collaboration with external research teams, policy makers, civic organizations, government agencies, and other partners.