Our work increases capacity of local governments globally. With distinct expertise and pioneering essential services, we positively impact the quality of people’s lives. Whether this is by enhancing smart communities through innovative technologies, empowering citizen engagement, enabling economic development, building, developing and up-skilling local talent or strengthening leadership and forward-thinking local government management – our work impacts how life is lived in today’s and tomorrow’s communities.
What: As a Senior Research Associate, you will conduct and oversee research contributing to ICMA’s thought leadership around enduring and emerging issues of local government management. You will ensure research is appropriately focused, timely, and held to high standards of quality; author reports, case studies, briefs, articles, summaries and other content based on research findings; and provide project development and management for research collaborations with external partners and funders.
What you will do - details:
Research and Writing (60%)
- Work with the research director and team to identify annual and emergent research priorities, based on your regular monitoring of relevant sources
- Design and execute research and policy analyses on a wide range of local government management issues, such as sustainability, economic development, resiliency, performance analytics, leadership and management, smart cities and others
- Author reports, case studies, briefs, articles, summaries, and other content based on research findings, alone and in partnership with other ICMA staff, members, academics, and other third-party researchers
- Oversee literature reviews, data collection and analysis, and writing conducted by supporting research staff
- Work with ICMA’s outreach team to ensure effective packaging and promotion of research content.
- Manage overall workflow of research activities and projects by regularly assessing priorities, anticipating next steps, and providing updates to the team
- Manage the finances and deliverables of externally-funded research projects
- Prepare budgets and manage project burn rate
- Oversee tasks, milestones and deliverables
- Ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget
- Liaise with internal and external providers of research support services (e.g. editing, technology providers, etc.).
- In conjunction with research director, coordinate logistics and content for the research and policy editorial advisory committee
- Serve as an expert resource for ICMA staff teams, members, the media, and other stakeholders on a portfolio of research topics
- Develop relationships with external researchers and ICMA audiences to support and advance the research agenda
- Support ICMA business development efforts by developing letters of inquiry, proposals, subcontracting scopes of work, and other submissions to foundations, corporations, federal agencies, and other potential funders of ICMA’s research and policy activities.
- A bachelor’s degree (required); a master’s degree in public administration, public policy, political science, planning, or a related field is strongly preferred
- Highly interested in and knowledgeable about local government operations, structures, and policy issues
- Knowledgeable about social science research methods and techniques
- Resourceful, self-motivated, and a critical thinker that works with a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail
- A clear and effective oral, written, and interpersonal communicator
- Comfortable and experienced using a range of software and technologies, including standard Microsoft Office programs; ideally you might have experience with ArcGIS, survey and statistical software platforms, and/or data visualization
- Able to self-direct and balance multiple simultaneous projects, and adapt to changing constraints and priorities
- Familiar with proposal writing and business development
Click here for more information and to apply. Prospective applicants are welcome to contact Laura Goddeeris (CUPPA alum) at lgoddeeris@icma.org with questions.