This part-time position (15-20 hours a week) will support research for Boston Indicators’ new Racial Wealth Gap and Economic Security Research Initiative (“Research Initiative”). This is an ambitious new project that will connect with a wide range of local researchers and community- based partners to support efforts around asset building and reducing racial wealth gaps. The initiative contains two primary lanes of work: 1) creating an online resource center that includes curated links to the best existing research on the racial wealth gap and related economic security issues and, 2) producing a series of new research papers on promising state and local policy levers for closing the racial wealth gap and expanding economic opportunity. The fellow will conduct original research, independently and with other Indicators staff, on key components of the racial wealth gap. Research will cover a range of topics from retirement savings to educational debt, but a particular focus will be given to housing and homeownership during the first half of the fellowship.

The fellow will work 15-20 hours per week for up to 9 months, with the possibility of an extension. This is a hybrid position, with most work conducted remotely, although the fellow will be expected to join some periodic in-person meetings.

Essential Functions:

• Produce data-driven research and analysis on topics related to the racial wealth gap in Greater Boston including, but certainly not limited to, housing and homeownership, entrepreneurship, education and human capital, and retirement and other savings;
• Communicate research findings in ways that are accessible to a range of non-technical audiences, often through the production of reports, articles, factsheets, briefings and presentations; and
• Develop and steward external relationships, helping Boston Indicators expand the reach and depth of connections with key local area research partners.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Individuals assigned to this position may perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Preparation, Knowledge, Previous Experience:

• Master’s degree required or bachelor’s degree with equivalent work experience.

Skills, Abilities, Competencies:

• Proven track record of conducting and leading equity-focused research;
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills;
• Familiarity with economic policy and an understanding of the drivers of racial wealth divides;
• Proficiency analyzing large data sets in Excel or R;
• Experience communicating research findings in ways that are accessible to a range of non- technical audiences;
• Comfort and flexibility working across a wide range of issue areas;
• Experience with R, Tableau, and/or ArcGIS (preferred);
• Comfort using data from different US Census Bureau sources (preferred); and
• Experience with housing and land use policy and practices (preferred).

Working Conditions & Physical Demands:

• The ability to sit or stand at workstation for long periods of time;
• Ability to use a computer monitor and keyboard for long periods of time; and
• Ability to work remotely and occasionally come on-site, as required.

The content is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job. It is not intended to constitute an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents, who are or become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act or applicable state law, must be able to perform the essential functions of the job (including those listed above) either with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation, if any, will be determined by management in consultation with the employee on a case-by-case basis.

This job description is intended to be general and may be revised from time to time. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different or additional duties from time to time.