Research Assistant (Housing Finance Policy Center)

About Urban Institute:
At the Urban Institute, we believe in the power of evidence to improve lives and strengthen communities. As a nonprofit focusing on social and economic policy, our researchers and policy entrepreneurs open minds, shape decisions, and identify transformative solutions to the most pressing issues of our time.

Our Mission
To open minds, shape decisions, and offer solutions through economic and social policy research.

Our Values
Collaboration, Equity, Inclusivity, Independence, and Integrity

For more information on the Urban Institute, please visit https://www.urban.org.

The Opportunity:
Central to Urban’s mission is fostering a truly inclusive community that ensures ongoing relevance to a changing world. The Housing Finance Policy Center seeks a Research Assistant to provide research and project support. The topical focus of the research is housing and housing finance policy covering areas such as access to mortgage credit, housing affordability, the future structure of the secondary mortgage market, and the government role in regulating and supporting the housing finance system.

The Research Assistant will work on quantitative and some qualitative research assignments related to internally and externally funded projects.

What You’ll Do:

• Contribute to quantitative and some qualitative research assignments.
• Conduct literature reviews and track emerging trends in industry and research, compiling and synthesizing information
• Update data series for HFPC’s monthly chartbook
• Provide general research assistance on other HFPC projects, research publications, and blogs on an ad-hoc basis.
• Support the center on administrative, communications, and event-related assignments with opportunities to assist center leadership with creating presentation materials for public events and meetings.
• Other duties as assigned by the center project manager or other senior staff.

Who You Are:

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Business, Real Estate, and Social Science or related fields is required. Some prior research experience strongly preferred. The research experience could include research for an undergraduate thesis.
• Demonstate strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Possess excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Exercise proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience managing and analyzing large datasets, using statistical packages, such as SAS, STATA, and/or R. Spatial analysis skills a plus.
• Initiates or suggests improvements or innovations on assigned tasks.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Willingness to adapt to changes in work assignments, deadlines and team environment
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize many moving tasks and competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ideally interested in housing and housing finance related issues.

What You’ll Experience:
No matter your role with Urban, you will contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference for people and communities across the country. And whether you call the Washington, DC area or elsewhere home, you can expect to be part of a welcoming and hybrid workplace. We are committed to cultivating a community and working in a manner defined by collaboration, equity, inclusivity, independence, and integrity.

Urban’s greatest asset is our people.

Urban is committed to supporting our staff’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being through a robust benefits package for yourself, eligible dependents, and domestic partners. It includes generous paid time off, including nine federal holidays, medical (including prescription), dental and vision insurance, and transit benefits. Urban is unique in that we offer 403(b) retirement plan participation immediately after you’re hired and a generous employer contribution after five months of service and 1,000 hours, with immediate vesting. You’ll also have access to a health advocate, personal finance coaching, an Employee Assistance Program, and educational assistance for undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

As a federal contractor, Urban will comply with Executive Order (EO) 14042 that requires federal contractors, subcontractors, and their respective employees to comply with Covid-19 vaccinations. All Urban Institute employees must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and comply with masking and distancing requirements, regardless of responsibilities or work location. New hires must also be fully vaccinated before starting work. Employees may request exemption from vaccination against COVID-19 based on either a medical condition or a sincerely held religious belief that prevents them from being vaccinated. Where such an exemption is approved, Urban will discuss with each employee potential accommodation.

The Urban Institute has formally recognized the Urban Institute Employees’ Union, which is part of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). Urban management and the Union work together in good faith and are motivated by a shared commitment to this institution. This position is included in the Union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific employment terms and conditions are subject to collective bargaining negotiations.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the people assigned. This posting is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements. Urban management reserves the right to amend and change duties, responsibilities, and requirements to meet business and organizational needs as necessary.

The Urban Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, veteran status, pregnancy or family responsibilities, matriculation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you have a physical and/or mental disability and are interested in applying for employment and need special accommodations to use our website to apply for a position, please contact Human Resources at humanresources@urban.org. Reasonable accommodation requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.