Research Officer

The Nowak Metro Finance Lab at the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University is seeking 3 Research Officers (Procurement, State Small Business Credit Initiative [SSBCI], Philadelphia) to study national models for urban transformation and the federal, state, and local and public, private and civic investments and innovations driving them, and capture and codify their governance and operating structures to support our national network of reflective practitioners in adapting and adopting promising practices for inclusive, equitable long-term growth. This work will occur in partnership with a network of national collaborators responding to the opportunities presented by federal investment and the impacts of the COVID crisis. The Officers will work directly with Bruce Katz, the Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab, supporting the Director with original research and writing, quantitative analysis, and presentations of research findings.

Research Officer – Procurement:

This position will focus specifically on how governments, anchors and intermediaries can support the growth of Black and brown business ecosystems through inclusive procurement strategies which encourage supplier diversity through patient capital and high-quality coaching.

This is a remote position. Candidates from anywhere in the US will be considered, particularly if they meet the experience requirements of having worked in metro finance, economic development, or institutional procurement. Periodic in-person meetings at the Lindy Institute’s offices in Philadelphia, PA, are expected.

Research Officer – SSBCI:

This position will focus specifically on how innovative financial instruments and intermediaries can support the growth of small business ecosystems, particularly in Black and Latino communities, through innovations in community finance, public, private, civic capital, and venture and impact investments, including the expanding State Small Business Credit Initiative.

This is a remote position. Candidates from anywhere in the US will be considered, particularly if they meet the experience requirements of having worked in metro finance, economic development, or institutional procurement. Periodic in-person meetings at the Lindy Institute’s offices in Philadelphia, PA, are expected.

Research Officer – Philadelphia:

This position will focus specifically on how Philadelphia and its governments, anchors and intermediaries can support equitable growth through research on finance and governance models to revive commercial corridors, build Black and brown small businesses and grow minority workforce participation. Candidates applying to this position must live in Philadelphia or its region.

Essential Functions

• Perform original qualitative and quantitative research and develop strategies related to building community wealth, including increasing minority business ownership and entrepreneurship, creating inclusive growth in historically socio-economically distressed areas, harnessing the capacity of anchor institutions and their relationships to advancing equitable neighborhood development, and deploying public, private, and non-profit assets to achieve those goals.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into draft memos, white papers, and reports.
• Supervise the related research efforts of Nowak Lab student research interns, co-ops, and/or graduate students.
• Work with the Lindy Institute staff to coordinate graphic design efforts for report products.
•  Communicate and coordinate with internal staff and external stakeholders via email and phone to ensure deliverable timelines and expectations are met.
• Other related duties as necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public finance, public policy, public administration, city and regional planning, urban design, urban strategy, neighborhood and economic development, or an allied field, with preference given to dual-degree candidates.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience.
• Knowledge of a variety of finance, planning, and urban economic policy issues.
• Highly organized self-starter able to work independently with minimal direction.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate a variety of applied research and engagement projects.
• Strong research, writing, communication, and presentational deck design skills.
• Strong outreach and engagement skills for conducting meetings with senior city leadership and the public.
• Creative thinker and problem solver, with a demonstrated ability to quickly assess all aspects of a public policy issue, find gaps, and source solutions.
• Ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of quantitative data analysis.
• Ability to synthesize various research findings into policy-relevant decision memos for public, private, and nonprofit leaders in a clear and digestible format.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in real estate finance, public finance, city/regional planning (with a focus on public-private partnerships), urban strategy, business administration, public policy, public health or another allied field.
• Demonstrated prior work or research experience in the aforementioned fields, particularly who can demonstrate familiarity with challenges facing weak market cities.
• Experience analyzing quantitative data and using tools including, but not limited to ArcGIS, R, SPSS and/or SAS. 
• Understanding of the federal and local policy landscape, and how the two interact.
• Demonstrated experience working with the leadership of metro-level public-private partnerships, particularly for innovation and economic development strategies.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the unique business issues faced by small business owners and entrepreneurs of color.

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt with a salary grade of M. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please include a cover letter, resume/CV and writing sample with your submission. Candidates with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.

APPLY HERE:

https://careers.drexel.edu/cw/en-us/job/497749/research-officers-3-open-positions