Research Assistant - Metropolitan Planning Council

Department: Research Assistants, Chicago

Employment Type: Contractor

Minimum Experience: Entry-Level

Compensation: $18

Description

Research assistants play an important role at MPC, offering essential support for our projects by researching, writing, and learning about planning policy in the region. Research Assistants at MPC have exposure to a broad range of regional policy issues and the opportunity to connect with a variety of planning agencies, community groups, and officials. Compensation for research assistant positions is $18 per hour. MPC also provides a $35 transportation subsidy. We welcome students with federal work-study and those seeking course credit to apply.

Full description and application are available here.

MPC is looking for a Research Assistant (RA) with advanced Excel and GIS skills (georeferencing experience required). The RA will support MPC’s Zoning and Land Use Assessment project and will work closely with the project research team. The RA will report to the Research Associate.

This part-time position requires a time commitment of 20 hours per week. It will start upon being filled and run through the end of 2023, with the possibility of extension in 2024.  Specific dates are to be determined based on the candidate's availability. 

About MPC

Dedicated to shaping a better, bolder, more equitable future for everyone, Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) believes that every community is valued. Every person has a voice. And every neighborhood thrives. Since 1934, this independent, nonpartisan organization has served metropolitan Chicago’s communities and residents to change perceptions, reimagine conversations, and defy the status quo. Through thoughtful collaboration with local communities, businesses, and governments, MPC is a bold change-maker, addressing the region’s toughest planning and development challenges. We believe that strong partnerships rooted in respect and trust are critical to creative and effective problem-solving. 

 

MPC is a values-driven workplace, and we are seeking to expand our team. Successful team members are curious and collaborative with strong communication and project management skills who recognize the connections between our core areas of work and seek to affect meaningful change. Central to living our values is embracing MPC’s organizational commitment to an anti-racist, anti-oppressive workplace and centering equity in strengthening our internal policies and practices.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Scan, georeference and digitize historical zoning maps of Chicago. It is anticipated that the RA will work on a few case studies of areas of the city at certain time periods. Case studies may include:
  • Changes in industrial zoning in the 1990s.
  • Downzoning (rezoning from higher density to lower density) in the north lakefront neighborhoods in the 1970s.
• Work alongside the MPC Research Team to prepare cross-sectional standardized zoning datasets for the years: 2003, 2012, and 2021. This includes reviewing zoning ordinances and appending detailed zoning information (e.g. maximum allowed dwelling units per parcel, minimum square feet per parcel, etc.) to each year of zoning shapefiles. Each zoning dataset will be standardized to 2010 census tract geographies and 2023 parcel boundaries.
• Occasional travel to the Harold Washington Library (Loop) may be necessary.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

MPC seeks an individual who thrives in a collegial work environment, is proactive and can manage multiple priorities. Given the nature of our work and the demands associated with remote and social-distanced working models, the Research Assistant will need to be a nimble and creative team member with the emotional intelligence, compassion, patience, sense of humor, and interpersonal communication skills to test and embrace new ways of working. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and research-minded and must be willing to read and analyze dense legal zoning text. GIS and Excel skills are required. Background in urban planning and public policy is preferred.

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Education & Experience

• At least two years of experience with GIS and working with large datasets in Excel
• Demonstrated project management and time management skills in successful completion of projects
• A bachelor's degree in public policy, public administration, urban planning or other relevant fields is preferred. Completion of, or enrollment in, a postgraduate degree is highly desirable. Depth and length of experience with similar work may be substituted for formal or degree certification.
• Basic knowledge of zoning policies and practices in Chicago is preferred, but not required.

Working Environment

MPC is a collaborative organization.  This is a hybrid position in which employees work at least twice a week from our Chicago Headquarters, with remote work offered up to three days a week. Travel is expected to be local as needed with future travel expectations to shift based on safe travel advisory and business needs.

How to apply:

Please submit the following materials:

 

1) A cover letter articulating your specific interest in the role and what you will bring to it or a short and relevant writing sample

2) Your résumé; or CV

3) GIS work samples

 

No phone calls please.

For more information on MPC, please visit our website: www.metroplanning.org MPC is an equal opportunity employer.

 

EEOC/Diversity Statement: 

MPC is an equal opportunity employer. We stay true to our mission by celebrating the differences among us. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our workplace and encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, and abilities to apply. We will not tolerate harassment, discrimination, or retaliation of any kind and we promote a climate of mutual respect for our employees.