Research and Policy Analyst*

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This is an EXCITING time to Join the City of Richmond! We are committed to nurturing talent, fostering growth opportunities, and building strong connections within our workforce. As we continue to make strides to becoming the employer of choice, we are thrilled about the below employee benefit enhancements:

• Virginia Retirement System (VRS)
• Language Incentive
• Referral Bonus
• Tuition Assistance Program

Description

The City of Richmond Office of Community Wealth Building is seeking highly qualified candidates to fill the position of Research and Policy Analyst. The Research and Policy Analyst is responsible for conducting thorough research and analysis to support the development, evaluation, and implementation of policies and programs. This role works directly with senior leadership and takes the lead on collecting and analyzing data, generating reports, and providing evidence-based recommendations to inform policy decisions and strategic initiatives to support the agency’s mission and vision.

Duties include but are not limited to

Key Responsibilities:

• Conducting quantitative and qualitative research on various issues relevant to the organization
• Designing and implementing surveys, interviews, and other data collection methods
• Analyzing statistical data
• Preparing comprehensive reports, strategic planning documents, and/or policy papers
• Researching and reviewing existing best practices, policies, legislation, and regulations related to key policy areas
• Evaluating the effectiveness and impact of current policies and programs
• Identifying trends, issues, opportunities, and funding resources related to key policy areas
• Preparing presentations and communicating findings to stakeholders, including policymakers, senior management, and the public
• Translating complex data into accessible and actionable insights and recommendations
• Working in partnership with internal teams, government agencies, and external stakeholders to coordinate essential programming, manage collaborative projects and promote regional collaboration
• Organizing and participating in meetings, focus groups, and workshops
• Providing recommendations based on research findings and best practices identified
• Monitoring and assessing the impact of policy changes and legislative impacts and recommend adjustments, as needed
• Manage research projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery of results
• Maintaining and organizing research findings and documentation
• Contributing to the development of research methodologies and tools

Qualifications, Special Certifications and Licenses

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, Social Sciences, or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in research and evaluation, policy analysis, strategic planning, project management, or a related field
• An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.

Knowledge (some combination of the following):

• Policy analysis
• Project management
• Strategic planning
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods relevant to area of interest
• Ethical research practices

Skills (some combination of the following):

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, Stata) and data analysis tools
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to synthesize complex information and present it clearly
• Strong organizational and project management skills

Abilities (some combination of the following):

• Problem-solve and be detail oriented
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Adapt to changing priorities and deadlines
• Maintain confidentiality

Americans with Disabilities Act Requirements

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: Working conditions may include exposure to travel to other locations within the City of Richmond as well as outside of the City of Richmond; exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, etc.; atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dusts, gases, and poor ventilation; inadequate lighting; intense noise; and environmental hazards such as disruptive people, imminent danger, and a threatening environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: Due to the nature of work assignments, incumbents must be able to perform detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks with frequent interruptions and under time constraint. The essential duties of this classification may require the ability to regularly finger, talk, hear, see, and perform repetitive motions; frequently walk; and occasionally stoop, reach, stand, push, pull, lift, grasp, and feel. The working conditions may contain environmental hazards. In terms of the physical strength to perform the essential duties, this classification is considered to be sedentary, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The City of Richmond provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

The City of Richmond is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, the City of Richmond will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If you require reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to participate in the job application and/or the interview process, please contact Jessica McKenzie, Talent Acquisition Partner, Senior at (804) 646-4705 or by email at Jessica.McKenzie@RVA.GOV.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The City of Richmond Values Veterans-We are an Official V3 Certified Company.

With over 4,000 employees, the City of Richmond is an "Employer of Choice" among cities throughout the nation. The City strives to hire and retain employees who bring dedication and talent to the workforce. Offering a competitive, cost effective, and quality benefits package is one element of an "Employer of Choice".

The City offers a full range of benefit programs from initial hire through retirement. Please visit our Web site for details.