"Assistant Research Scientist/Assistant Project Manager"

Description

Background

Our cities were built in response to yesterday’s problems. As the world faces rising populations, climate change, and economic challenges, communities can’t afford to wait until after the next hurricane or flood, or ignore chronic stresses such as aging infrastructure and pollution, to plan for the future. Rebuild By Design is reimagining the way communities find solutions for today’s large-scale, complex problems.

Rebuild by Design convenes a mix of sectors to gain a better understanding of how overlapping environmental and human-made vulnerabilities leave cities and regions at risk. Rebuild’s core belief is that through collaboration our communities can grow stronger and better prepared to stand up to whatever challenges tomorrow brings. Rebuild’s collaborative research and design approach is helping cities around the globe achieve resilience. To learn more visit rebuildbydesign.org

Rebuild by Design is looking for an Assistant Research Scientist/Assistant Project Manager to join our dedicated and energetic team. We are looking for someone to help manage our work partnering with cities to create inclusive and implementation-driven processes to help solve communities’ pressing needs whether they relate to water, housing, or community resilience. Projects have ranged from regenerating the historic Xochimilco neighborhood of Mexico City to designing tools for community engagement with community-based organizations in the City of Oakland to creating a one-stop-shop of climate data that enables communities to understand their risks better. 

Position

The Assistant Research Scientist/Assistant Project Manager will address community needs by working with cities, communities, businesses, and other stakeholders to collect, organize and analyze data and information for priority research topics, such as new approaches to funding and designing infrastructure projects that address climate change. In support of this research work, this position will provide related strategic project management, communications development, design, grant writing, and report tracking for funders and other key stakeholders.

Research projects will focus on catalyzing equitable, community-centered resilient infrastructure, projects, policies, funding, and programs. Research initiatives will vary over time as needed; however, this position at a minimum will:

• Research the Community Reinvestment Act's new rules to: 1) develop a concrete understanding of how current climate infrastructure is financed and what will become allowable under the CRA amendment, 2) research and develop an exemplary pilot project to model new CRA investments in resilient infrastructure, and 3) develope a guide for banks to invest in multibenefit climate infrastructure, and a second guide for communities to learn how to leverage the new US Treasury rules.
• Work with stakeholders, researchers and philanthropy in Miami, FL to create a comprehensive vision for the redevelopment of the Rickenbacker Causeway which will include: interviews, researching national best practices for climate infrastructure, and developing alignment of stakeholder visions.
• Develop localized impact reports through the Atlas of Disaster research, and work with stakeholders in selected states to better understand the opportunities to seed new funding sources for climate infrastructure.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is flexible, works independently, and has an appetite to learn about a rapidly expanding field. The ideal candidate will hold a Master's Degree, and have a minimum of 2 years of work experience in research, design, community engagement, communications, public relations, or a related field, or a Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 3 years experience. Experience in policy/government, community non-profit, design/engineering/planning, and environmental communications preferred.

Rebuild by Design is housed at the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. This position will be an employee of New York University and will report to the Managing Director. The position comes with a very generous benefits package that can be viewed here.

Salary: In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is USD $65,000.00 to USD $75,000.00. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or other items.

Qualifications:

• Commitment to the vision of Rebuild by Design and equitable adaptation
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience or 2 years of professional experience with a graduate degree in a related field. 
• Proven track record of accomplishments and demonstrated creativity
• Ability to work effectively in a small team structure to complete tasks in a timely manner, monitor the work program, manage multiple research projects simultaneously, and communicate ideas effectively 
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines, have strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to negotiate sensitive issues
• Passion for community engagement, and experience managing public engagement processes, advisory committees, or external communications
• Excellent writing, public speaking, and design skills including Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong project management experience for administering multiple, simultaneous research projects
• Experience managing digital elements of campaigns and initiatives – including website content, social media, email management, and online advocacy and organizing tools
• Experience writing and designing reports
• Fluency with Mailchimp, and other online communication and campaign tools
• Passion for social change, ability to be creative, strong sense of humor, flexibility and wants to work with fun people

Essential Duties May Include:

• Inspire and motivate cities and partners to use collaborative approaches to policy and planning by partnering with civic, business and community groups, associations and public agencies
• Strategic project management including facilitation of meetings, tracking deadlines, creating agendas, taking notes and following up on tasks
• Collect and organize data to determine areas of research
• Communications development including drafting public-facing materials such as reports, and presentations, website updates and posts on social media channels
• Present at meetings and public events 
• Online and in-person event management
• Support for grant writing, tracking and reporting

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter explaining why you want to work at Rebuild by Design, example of past work (i.e. policy or project memo, research report, design portfolio, etc.), and resume that clearly demonstrates your qualifications as it relates to this position.