Open Positions

Research Manager, Data Collection and Analysis (Housing, Health, and Community Economic Development)

Schedule: Full-Time/Regular

Location: Seattle, WA (Hybrid: WFH and In-Office)

Salary: $90,000-$125,000 DOE, plus 401(k) plan, health insurance (no employee premium), paid vacation and sick leave, subsidized transportation (ORCA card), and periodic salary review and performance bonus

USE YOUR COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH SKILLS TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR TRIBAL AND NATIVE COMMUNUTIES

Big Water Consulting is a consulting firm located in Seattle, Washington that specializes in survey design and implementation, data analysis and visualization, mapping, and data-driven strategic planning and advocacy for tribal and Native communities and other underserved, undercounted and misrepresented populations. Big Water’s clients range from tribal governments and tribal programs to domestic and international nonprofit organizations to research departments at world-renowned universities. We pride ourselves on promoting lasting data and mapping-related capacity-building for our clients and filling data gaps for unique, diverse, and often underserved communities and ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest, the United States and throughout the world. At present, Big Water is managing several economic development and affordable housing-related projects at the tribal/reservation, state, regional and national levels, including projects funded by federal agencies, national Native and non-Native housing-focused nonprofits, and philanthropic entities.

We are seeking a smart, thoughtful, and detail-oriented individual to serve as the Research Manager for our growing organization. The Research Manager will work directly with our team members to design research projects; analyze housing, community and economic development data; conduct market studies; develop economic diversification and recovery plans; and draft research reports. The selected candidate will also deliver presentations to facilitate data-driven decision-making for our clients and tailor materials to further our clients’ specific advocacy and policy-related efforts. In addition, this position will require the patience, maturity, perseverance and diplomacy necessary to operate within the complex and dynamic cultural contexts of tribal, rural and urban areas as well as the tenacity to build capacity within organizations that have very limited resources, all while maintaining the highest standards of data analysis, reporting and presentation.

The ideal candidate will be eager to travel to and work in very rural and remote areas, including Native lands from Arizona to Alaska and Maui to Wisconsin, and be excited to serve as a thought leader and the face of Big Water Consulting at relevant meetings and conferences.

[Please note that application packages will only be reviewed if all of the required materials listed below are submitted by email.]

Responsibilities

Teamwork & Management:

• Manage successful completion of significant portions of larger projects including:

• Developing work plans,

• Meeting deadlines,

• Ensuring work meets highest quality standards,

• Producing presentations and reports,

• Coordinating research associates and/or assistant researchers, and

• Working with external partners (tribes, consultants, organizations, etc.);

• Manage timelines, identify issues and exceptions early, develop plans to mitigate (with Managing Director);

• Serve as project hub for research projects – keep communication flowing between research associates, assistant researchers, interns, external partners, and Big Water administration; ensure sufficient time scheduled with team for problem solving and analytical discussions;

• Work with leadership to assemble project teams, ensuring highest and best use of individual skills and talents;

• Create project timelines and time‐to‐completion estimates;

• Train, develop and supervise junior staff;

• Maintain open and clear communication with Managing Director;

• Collaborate proactively with other departments and team members; and

• Contribute to the development of new projects and proposals.

Experience

• Hands-on analysis, visualization and reporting of primary survey data, including large and “messy” data sets, using R statistical software (as well as working knowledge of Excel)

• Advanced knowledge of research and sampling methods, sample development and data extrapolation techniques

• Hands on management and/or team leadership in large and/or longitudinal research projects

• Direct experience working on projects involving local, state, and federal housing and community and economic development programs and related data sources (e.g., Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), Opportunity and Promise Zones, Community Development Block Grants, HMDA, NAHASDA, and/or Indian Housing Block Grant)

• Experience working with data of varying quality and from varied sources

Education

Ph.D. or higher in statistics, economics, public health, public policy, administration, or related subject and at least 3-5 years of post-doctoral experience involving primary data collection; or

Master’s degree or higher in statistics, economics, public health, public policy, administration, or related subject and at least 7-10 years of post-graduate experience involving primary data collection.

Qualities

• Able to proactively incorporate cultural norms and practices into research design

• Customer service-oriented, deadline-driven, highly organized, and able to prioritize a diverse workload

• Ability to develop user-friendly and affordable data collection and management solutions for clients with limited initial capacity

• Desire and demonstrated capacity to quickly adapt to new technology and build new skills

• Creativity to independently generate ideas for new projects, evaluation metrics, survey questions or organizational focal areas to facilitate client growth

• Proven ability to work under pressure, accurately assess problems, and develop solutions

• Ability to synthesize and present findings to both technical and non‐technical audiences

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our work. Indigenous applicants, women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are highly encouraged to apply.

Application Process:

The following required materials should be sent to Cris Gastner, Community Economic Development Specialist, at cris@bigwaterconsulting.org:

1. Cover Letter outlining specific interests in our work and relevant experience and certifications

2. Resume or CV listing or highlighting relevant experience

3. Two (2) brief but representative samples of applicant’s data analysis and visualization or report writing experience

4. Three (3) professional references familiar with applicant’s relevant professional experience

This posting will remain open until the position is filled.