Officer – Research and Policy Initiative

Officer – Research and Policy Initiative

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
• Generally, eight years of applicable experience.
• Relevant experience in public policy, the public sector, academia, journalism or with nonprofits preferred, with evidence of increased responsibilities over time.
• Experience synthesizing and summarizing large amounts of information and focusing quickly on the essence of an issue, determining whether it is ripe for in-depth analysis and identifying the means to examine it. Proven experience in statistical software and/or geospatial analysis.
• Special expertise in at least one city-focused subject area—public safety, transportation, human services, government operations, etc.—or proven knowledge and command of city-related data sources.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including experience briefly summarizing the essence of issues and the means to address them. Clear, effective writing style.
• A task-oriented style, with a focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals. Demonstrated experience meeting multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Proven experience developing and moving projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Effective interpersonal skills; develops and manages productive relationships with consultants, partners, and others who contribute to the development of a project by anticipating possible outcomes. Excellent listening skills.
• Track record of working professionally and collegially within a culture that emphasizes excellence and teamwork.
• Experience working successfully with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Attention to detail, including exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products.
• Knowledge of current trends and issues affecting Philadelphia specifically and cities in general preferred.

Responsibilities

• Foster a work environment that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible and in line with Pew and the project’s related goals.
• Contribute to the conceptualization, design, and implementation of research and analysis on key issues affecting the city of Philadelphia.
• Identify and develop the scope of research needed to fully explore the topics.
• Conduct background and primary research or support external contractors engaging in research, including quantitative analysis of complex datasets; compilation; empirical analysis; literature reviews; and interviews with stakeholders.
• Develop and write major policy research reports and shorter issue briefings that are relevant to policy deliberations and easily understood by policymakers, civic stakeholders, the media, and a wider public audience, often in collaboration with colleagues as well as external writers and consultants.
• Engage with Pew’s internal quality control processes, including research support and quality.
• Coordinate production and publication of graphics. Prepare charts and tables as needed. Edit and proof draft documents for accuracy.
• Monitor and identify emerging urban policy issues that are relevant to Philadelphia and to the priorities of the initiative.
• Maintain, strengthen and expand a broad knowledge of research methodologies and practices.
• Contribute to and participate in other work tasked to the initiative as well as broader Pew-related projects and activities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree preferred.
• Knowledge of current trends and issues affecting Philadelphia specifically and cities in general preferred.