Policy Analyst, CMAP - Chicago

Company/Agency: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Job Category:  Assistant or Associate Level

Experience Required: Two or more years experience

Salary Range: Commensurate with level hired

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire a Policy Analyst.

CMAP  is the official regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of

Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.  CMAP developed and now leads

the implementation of GOTO 2040, metropolitan Chicago's first comprehensive regional plan

in more than 100 years.  To address anticipated population growth of more than 2 million new

residents, GO TO 2040 establishes coordinated strategies that help the region’s 284 communities

address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, the environment, and other

quality-of-life issues.  See www.cmap.illinois.gov  for more information.

Position Description

The GO TO 2040 regional comprehensive plan emphasizes the importance of planning for

sustained economic prosperity and recommends bolstering the region's economic advantages

by nurturing the region's industry clusters.  Since the plan was released, CMAP has contributed

significant new research on the challenges and opportunities facing the freight/logistics

and manufacturing industry clusters in particular.  CMAP also tracks and disseminates data

and information on regional land use and development patterns, including housing trends,

commercial and industrial development trends, residential connectivity, and land use planning

along transportation corridors.  The ideal candidate for this position will have significant

strengths in one or more of these focus areas and demonstrate a broad base of knowledge about

the interactions between infrastructure, land use, public policy, and overall regional economic

The policy analyst position will be responsible for furthering the agency's role in implementing

GO TO 2040's recommendations related to economic innovation and industry clusters by

collecting and analyzing data, managing research, producing reports and issue briefs, monitoring

and providing agency direction on federal, state and local public policy, and communicating and

coordinating with the agency's partners on issues that affect the regional economy and business

attraction and retention.  This position will also be responsible for contributing data analysis

and policy analysis on regional development, including residential, commercial, and industrial

trends.  Across all these projects and tasks, the policy analyst will be expected to emphasize the

recommendations of GO TO 2040 and work collaboratively with other entities to set regional

Essential Functions:

• Collect and analyze data on the regional economy, including a focus on regional

development patterns, industry clusters, transportation infrastructure, and economic

indicators.

• Manage or support agency projects which analyze and report on the issues facing

northeast Illinois’ industry clusters (particularly freight and logistics and manufacturing)

and identify challenges and opportunities with labor supply and demand, workforce

development, public policy, infrastructure, and technology.

• Lead or assist with data analysis and compose issue briefs and larger policy reports on

regional development trends, including relevant metrics of residential, commercial, and

industrial growth patterns.

• Write reports and issue briefs which explain data trends and the potential impacts of

changes in federal, state, or local public policy.

• Present work to relevant CMAP committees and participate in regional groups on these

issues as they affect metropolitan Chicago.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent writing skills and the ability to communicate effectively on issues of public

policy and planning.

• Excellent data management skills and the ability to manipulate and analyze large data

sources in spreadsheets, databases, and geographic information systems (GIS), as well as

the ability to generate findings from these data and present results.

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex research projects and produce reports and issue

briefs that are factual, original, compelling and persuasive.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to complement existing

projects via independent or team-based work.

• A demonstrated knowledge of economic issues and the role metropolitan regions play in

overall economic growth and sustainability.

• An ability to apply microeconomic theory and empirical evidence toward practical

purposes, and a demonstrated interest in the complex connections between transportation,

development, and the metropolitan economy.

• Familiarity with the governance structure of northeastern Illinois.

Education and/or Experience:

• A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Planning, Economics, Public Administration or a

related field is required.

• Prior experience in a related field is required.

• Ability to work effectively in an environment using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft

Office products, with adaptability to other software.

• Demonstrated skills with microcomputer databases, spreadsheets, and Arc/GIS

geographic information systems.

Contact Information

Send your resume, cover letter with contact information and Job Code: PA055

hresources@cmap.illinois.gov

Human Resources

CMAP: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 800

Chicago, IL 60606

Position open until filled. The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is an Equal

Opportunity Employer.