Posted: December 12, 2011

Urban Institute is seeking a New Orleans-based field researcher to join the Washington, DCbased team evaluating the Choice Neighborhoods initiative. The evaluation uses a mixedmethods approach, and data collection will start in early 2012. The initiative transforms distressed neighborhoods and public and assisted projects into viable and sustainable mixed-income neighborhoods by linking housing improvements with appropriate services, schools, public assets, transportation, and access to jobs. A strong emphasis is placed on local community planning for access to high-quality educational opportunities, including early childhood education.

The three-year evaluation (which started in October 2011) will document how Choice Neighborhoods investments leverage other funding, how effectively the various activities are coordinated, what policy reforms and innovations accompany the intervention, how the grantee utilizes partnerships to improve program performance, and what supports are available to former public or assisted housing residents, among other questions. The evaluation also includes exhaustive collection of administrative data, interviewing, surveys, site observation, and other data sources.

Responsibilities: The responsibilities of the employee, over a period of two to two and one-half years, will include the following, which will require varying amounts of time per month ranging from about 10 to about 50 hours per month:

• On an ongoing basis, monitor activities in the Choice Neighborhood site via news scans, informational interviews, and observation of community meetings.

• Conduct between one and three waves per year of in-depth interviews and/or focus groups with grantees and key stakeholders in the transformation process.

• Lay groundwork for, and participate actively in, annual three- to five-day site visits by the Washington-based team members. This will include, for example: setting up focus groups; scheduling interviews; and participating in interviews, site visits, and focus groups.

• Prepare monthly reports to Urban Institute summarizing findings.

Qualifications: A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree in a social science, social work, or policy/planning is preferred. Experience with qualitative research is necessary. Strong writing and analysis skills are also required. Preferred candidate should have developed data collection tools for community-based research and conducted interviews with diverse community stakeholders (residents, community organizations, local leaders, etc.). Strong knowledge of the New Orleans area is preferred.

Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Depending on the candidate’s interests and qualifications, the Urban Institute welcomes discussion of how the employee’s activities might help satisfy graduate school requirements.

The Urban Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/H. We welcome diversity in the workplace and encourage all minorities and women to apply.

Please visit https://jobs-urban.icims.com/jobs/1731/job to apply.