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Research and Policy Analyst

Seattle is unique, beautiful, and one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. The City of Seattle is home to incredible natural landscapes, a world-renowned innovative economy, and robust city assets, from nearly 500 one-of-a-kind parks to one of the nation’s cleanest utilities, along with significant investments in a new civic waterfront and major light rail transit expansion. At the same time, Seattle faces ongoing challenges that include a homelessness and housing affordability crisis, public safety needs, and the continued economic and social impacts of a two-year pandemic.
 
Mayor Bruce Harrell is bringing a new urgency and united effort to address the challenges facing Seattle. Elected to his first term last November, Mayor Harrell is a collaborator committed to bold action, innovation, and sustainable solutions–bringing communities together to make progress through his ‘One Seattle’ agenda. He believes that, with the right approach and the right team, Seattle can set a national—and international—example through strong leadership and new efforts to address homelessness, reimagine public safety, act on climate change, and build a Seattle that is an affordable, safe, healthy, and thriving city for all. 
 
To share the work being led by Mayor Harrell and the City of Seattle, we are looking for two Research and Policy Analysts who will help develop and support the Mayor’s policy agenda. Reporting to the Director of Policy and the Deputy Director of Policy, your scope of work will touch on a variety of topics, including homelessness, parks, public safety, land use, housing, funding priorities and budgeting, and many others. The policy team plays a critical role in making sure City leaders have the information they need to make informed decisions. Your analysis will help City leaders understand alternatives and trade-offs while implementing the Mayor’s priorities. 

Here's more about what you’ll be doing:
  • Analyzing quantitative and qualitative information and data, evaluating policies, regulations, rules, and procedures to make recommendations
  • Planning and conducting research on various public policy issues, identifying and synthesizing relevant information into research memos, briefs, reports, and presentations in a variety of formats to engage a diverse audience
  • Conducting literature reviews and identifying and talking to subject matter experts within and external to the City
  • Managing and participating in workgroups with internal and external stakeholders (this will involve administrative duties, such as scheduling coordination and note-taking, but will also involve substantive research work)
  • Defining information and data needs for projects, designing data collection methods and assessment tools, and establishing monitoring activities to increase the understanding of specific programs, policies, and issues
  • Participating in meetings and events (some of which may occur outside of core business hours)
  • Performing a range of other related duties as assigned

Your success will depend on your ability to:
  • Collaborate and consult with others 
  • Work comfortably in a matrixed-management environment 
  • Take a proactive approach in meeting the Mayor’s needs, advancing City objectives, and navigating through a political work environment 
  • Juggle multiple projects and priorities while meeting critical deadlines
  • Apply your creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving to the work 
  • Incorporate equity considerations into your analysis to work towards ending institutional and systemic racism 

You will feel prepared for this role if you have a combination of the below:
Skills:
  • Critical thinking and political awareness
  • Writing clearly and convincingly 
  • Project Management and staying organized in a fast-paced environment 
  • Utilizing a variety of Microsoft Office tools, with advanced skills in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • Data visualization 
  • Giving presentations, including conveying complex information succinctly and answering questions under pressure 
Experience:
  • Taking initiative in a team setting
  • Applying a race and social justice lens to policy and/or fiscal analysis
  • Communicating the purpose, process, and outcome of your analysis to a broad audience 
  • Building and maintaining collaborative relationships to get work done 
  • Working with government budgets/finance 
  • Degrees or certifications in Public Policy, Law, Urban Planning, Economics, or other Social Sciences

Qualifications
In addition to the ability to perform the work outlined above, you will be most successful if you have demonstrated policy and research experience, including practical application in real world settings, and strong writing skills. Your genuine personal interest in public policy work will also contribute to your success. 
 
The City of Seattle recognizes every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways we courageously share our perspectives and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Additional Information
These positions are classified as Strategic Advisor 1, Exempt and are exempt from the Civil Service System. 

These positions offer the flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Employees will be expected to be in-office twice a week. Individual schedules will be subject to change and based on agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided an opportunity to explain or correct background information.
 
APPLICATION PROCESS:
To be considered for these positions, you must submit your complete application, including answering all supplemental questions and attaching a cover letter, resume, and writing sample at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/seattle/ no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on Tuesday, August 9, 2022Your writing sample should illustrate your ability to synthesize a complex issue (preferably one involving a choice about how to resolve a policy question). This position is open to all applicants that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. If you have questions, please contact Lindsey King at Lindsey.King@seattle.gov