Transportation and Community Development Policy Analyst: The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT)
Position Description:
Title: Transportation and Community Development Policy Analyst
Offered by: Center for Neighborhood Technology
Availability: Immediate; Open until filled
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is an award-winning "innovations laboratory
for urban sustainability." Since 1978, CNT has been working to show urban communities in
Chicago and across the country how to develop more sustainably. CNT promotes the better and
more efficient use of the undervalued resources and inherent advantages of the built and natural
systems that comprise the urban environment.
As a creative think-and-do tank, we research, promote, and implement innovative solutions to
improve the economy and the environment; make good use of existing resources and community
assets; restore the health of natural systems and increase the wealth and well-being of people—
now and in the future. CNT's unique approach combines cutting edge research and analysis,
public policy advocacy, the creation of web-based information tools for transparency and
accountability, and the advancement of economic development social ventures to address those
problems in innovative ways.
CNT works in four areas: transportation and community development, natural resources, energy, and climate. CNT's two affiliates, I-GO Car Sharing and CNT Energy, enable individuals to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle while decreasing their household expenses in transportation
and energy.
Our staff of 64 is located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood in a former weaving factory
that is LEED-Platinum (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) building.
CNT is a recipient of the 2009 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.
In 2006, CNT pioneered the concept of Housing + Transportation Affordability, developing an
innovative model for household transportation costs that produces a more comprehensive
account of the cost of location than is possible with other measures. Since the creation of the
H+T model, CNT has expanded its coverage to over 300 metro regions in the U.S. and has
partnered with regional authorities across the country to produce customized H+T analyses,
along with policy recommendations for ways to achieve more affordable and sustainable
development. The Secretaries of HUD and USDOT referred to CNT's Index as the justification
for their interagency partnership for sustainable communities. The Index is being applied in
regions as diverse as the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. In
the coming months and years, CNT expects H+T Affordability to emerge as a crucial
consideration for policymakers involved in transportation and housing development. This staff
person will be expected to facilitate the expansion of CNT's transportation and community
development work at the regional and federal level by promoting and implementing H+T
analysis, as well as other relevant tools, policies and programs.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a staff level point person for the Transportation and Community Development
program on the H+T Affordability Index, taking the lead on regional reports, policy
proposals and other projects,
- Develop and recommend planning mechanisms to encourage affordable, equitable and
sustainable mixed use development, including but not limited to public ordinances,
zoning codes and recommendations, financing instruments and other programs,
- Build strong relationships with municipal, regional, state and federal agencies and
stakeholders to implement policies, standards, and strategies supportive of sustainable
and affordable development,
- Promote the use of the H+T tool to improve communities’ understanding of the tool and
its implications for sustainable development and affordability,
- Research and advocate for best practices for transportation and community development
planning across the nation,
- Engage with local and federal government, transit agencies, regional planning agencies
and other stakeholders to move these recommendations towards implementation,
- Review and comment on legislation, at the state and federal level, regarding public
transportation and community development, and
- Advocate for mass transportation, transit-linked development and other community
planning strategies that promote combined housing and transportation affordability at
regional meetings and events
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be energetic, analytical and creative with excellent interpersonal and
project management skills as well as the following experience:
- At least seven years in community development, transportation, affordable housing,
urban planning, public policy and/or a related field,
- Experience and familiarity with numerous planning techniques and tools including but
not limited to public participation, design charrettes, zoning ordinances, and value
capture financing,
- Knowledge of the development process, especially as it applies to mixed-use
development,
- Thorough knowledge of local, state and federal initiatives to expand public transportation
and encourage transit oriented development (TOD),
- A Masters Degree or equivalent,
- Experience managing and contributing to projects individually and as part of a team, and
- Excellent oral and written communications skills.
The position will report to the Transportation and Community Development Program Director.
About CNT
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) is a thirty-one year-old non-profit organization
which develops and applies innovative approaches to urban sustainability. Our mission is to
simultaneously promote ecological, economic and community development in Chicagoland
communities and in urban regions throughout the U.S. We do this through public policy, market
development and community planning activities in partnership with other organizations. The
intended result of CNT's work is healthy urban communities that have a clean, livable,
sustainable environment, a strong local economy with good paying jobs, and a strong social and
political fabric.
CNT works in entrepreneurial fashion, seeking opportunities to apply knowledge about potential
strategies for inclusive urban well-being to demonstrations that can be taken to scale. We
leverage the community value of hidden assets by changing public policy, changing marketplace
practice, promoting rapid learning or by creating better professional communities of practice.
Our staff of 45 is located in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood in a former weaving factory
that recently was awarded a “Platinum” rating by the US Green Building Council.
CNT's Transportation and Community Development Program
CNT's program initiatives are organized primarily around four areas: Transportation and
Community Development, Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources, and Climate Change. Our
Research Division underpins the work of the four substantive program areas and is responsible
for much of the original research that we conduct. CNT's applied research has a national and
regional reputation for quality and innovation, and has been the basis for new program initiatives
as well as significant policy change in a number of areas.
The Transportation and Community Development program seeks to achieve: vibrant, compact,
and diverse communities that minimize the need for private cars; public transportation that is
efficient, affordable, and widely available; and economic development that takes full advantage
of passenger and freight rail assets. Although the H+T Affordability Index is our best known
tool, staff has also developed tools for identifying optimal levels of development around transit
stations and freight rail facilities. TCD staff apply these tools as part of consulting engagements
across the country.
The position is funded for two years, and will continue beyond that depending on funding. Salary
commensurate with experience. Additional information about CNT programs and research
projects is available on request as well
as at our web site, http://www.cnt.org
To apply, please submit a letter of interest, resume, and salary history to:
Bridget Torres, Human Resources Manager
Center for Neighborhood Technology
773 269 4054
Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Center for Neighborhood Technology is an equal opportunity employer that does not
discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on race, color, national origin, religion,
sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or marital status. This policy applies to all
terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, termination,
promotion, transfer, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The Center for Neighborhood Technology is an Equal Opportunity Employer