Center for Neighborhood Technology
Senior Analyst
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) seeks a committed, passionate team member for our urban analytics department. This department encompasses CNT’s award-winning work on our advocacy tools and analytical products that support decision-making in communities across the nation.
Position Description
Key responsibilities and expectations of the Senior Analyst are:
Advance CNT’s mission in all work. As a key member of a mission-driven organization, commit to CNT’s core principles of equity, resilience, and support for communities, and use this mission to guide program direction.
Create high quality analytical products and research reports. Contribute to the production of innovative, original analysis. Strong analytical abilities, both quantitative and qualitative, are valued, as well as the ability to work with non-technical staff on joint projects.
Project development and management. The candidate will explore, initiate, and manage discrete projects within CNT’s larger programs. Initially, responsibilities will largely include management and contribution to individual projects; in the longer term, the candidate will also take responsibility for managing programs.
Foster and maintain strong relationships with our core partners, including community-based organizations, peer nonprofits, and governments. Position the priorities of marginalized communities at the center of CNT’s work, and orient our programs to support and empower community-based organizations.
Technical support to CNT’s advocacy tools. Respond to inquiries related to CNT’s online tools such as the H+T Index, AllTransit and Green Values Calculator.
The Senior Analyst is expected to have the knowledge, skills, and experience that allows them to achieve the expectations described above. A successful candidate will have:
Commitment to our mission. First and foremost, commitment to and passion for CNT’s mission of equity, environmental and climate justice, and urban sustainability.
Deep respect for community-based organizations. Consistent with our mission, CNT has a culture that highly values relationships with marginalized communities and the organizations that represent them. All staff, including the Senior Analyst, are expected to exemplify this principle in their work, and to bring Justice, Equity Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles and intercultural competence to how they represent the organization and engage with community-based groups.
Proficiency with analytical tools and products. CNT’s urban analytics team provides analytical support on all of CNT’s work products, involving both other CNT staff and external partners. Proficiency in GIS-based software, data visualization platforms and/or statistical programs or programming languages such as Python, R, SQL or other is important.
Ability to communicate complex data/concepts to a wide variety of audiences. Strong communication skills, written and oral, to translate CNT’s analytical products into highly effective and compelling reports, presentations, and other written mediums. Experience with StoryMaps or similar story telling products is a plus.
Experience with federal, state, and local datasets. Familiarity in acquiring and processing census data, environmental data and other relevant state and local data sources, along with experience in mapping and creating data visualizations.
Ability to demonstrate adaptability and agility as projects evolve. While CNT’s mission commitment is consistent, the specific directions of our projects shift in response to new opportunities, lessons learned, and changes in community partner priorities.
Major projects currently underway or planned include:
Analytical support to community-based environmental justice groups. CNT has several active projects that are co-led with community-based organizations to both research current disparities and provide tools to overcome them. Contributing to these projects in a way that achieves the goals established by the community partner is a high priority.
Transportation equity analyses. Contribute analysis to several projects related to transportation and equity. CNT’s current engagements include providing technical expertise to transit agencies, city, state, and federal agencies.
Climate resiliency analyses. CNT leads a variety of projects on Chicago’s south side and Cook County’s south suburbs to build climate resilience and reduce flooding. The development of a webtool to showcase a baseline of urban flooding issues is currently underway.
Short-term projects. The Urban Analytics team periodically responds to short-term technical projects that advance equity and sustainability principles. Recent examples include an equity-oriented site selection tool for an economic development group in Ohio, a webtool to inform impacts of investment choices on climate change for a philanthropic foundation, and an analysis of the federal government’s definition of disadvantaged areas related to its Justice 40 program.
A Bachelor’s Degree is required in a field related to urban planning, public policy, or data science. A Master’s Degree is preferred but not required. A minimum of 3 years of directly relevant work experience is required, and candidates with up to 8 years of experience are encouraged to apply.
Salary, Benefits, and Location
The salary for this position will be based on qualifications, including years of experience. For those with experience near the minimum (3 years), salary range will be in the $65,000 range. Those with more experience (6-8 years) will be in the $85,000 range. These are provided as approximate ranges and offers will be based on qualifications.
CNT offers 20 vacation days, 10 holidays, 5 sick days, and 2 personal days annually, and a competitive benefits package. We respect life-work balance and are supportive of staff with families. CNT permits all staff to work from home during COVID-19 according to their preference and will maintain a flexible schedule in the long term. CNT expects all staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be willing to become vaccinated after their hire.
Location is open for discussion; CNT is based in Chicago and centers our work here, but also works on projects nationwide. The Senior Analyst should have the ability to travel for meetings, events, and conferences, though out of region travel will be infrequent. This position reports to the Director of Urban Analytics.
Employment Policy: It is the policy of CNT that all employees are employed at the will of CNT. Continued employment is subject to funding availability and job performance.
Anti-Discrimination Policy: CNT 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, gender identity, 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.
How to Apply
Please send cover letter and resume by April 30, 2022, to:
Bridget Torres
Human Resources/Center for Neighborhood Technology
17 N State, Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60602
or email to bridget@cnt.org
Please write Senior Analyst in the email subject line. No phone calls please.