Job Description

The Institute for Urban & Regional Infrastructure Finance (IURIF) is a research center focusing on policy issues related to urban infrastructure finance from a regional perspective. The research associate will work applied research in public policy, public management, and public finance. The staff researcher will work closely with the IURIF Director and other IURIF staff to execute ongoing research projects and shape the direction of future research projects. The position will also require frequent engagement with project funders and external partners. 

Major Areas of Responsibility:

Research (75% of time): 

• Participating in IURIFâ™s one or several research projects as PI and co-PI on budgeting practices, infrastructure finance, or economic impacts of infrastructure investments;   
• Develop instruments for data collection on intergovernmental fiscal arrangements in infrastructure related projects (e.g., transit, highways, stormwater); 
• Conduct analysis of quantitative and qualitative data;
• Formulate and conduct research investigations on state and local budgeting practices, infrastructure finance, state-local transportation arrangements, or the economic impacts of infrastructure investments;   
• Draft interim project reports;
• Draft final project reports; 
• Present and share project findings to external audiences including professionals at local and state governments, and academic conferences;
• Integrating multiple datasets to maintain and update the data visualization tool for the Minnesota Transportation Finance Database;
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and work with journal editors/reviewers for publication; 
• Building connections with CTS and Local Road Research Board to develop future research projects; and
• Assisting IURIFâ™s ongoing grant-writing activities to procure research funding for future years. 

Management (20% of time)

• Coordinate research activities of IURIF research;
• Develop and implement comprehensive timelines, project plans, and identify resources to manage and meet grant deadlines. Understand design goals and design strategies for meeting the goals;
• Supervise graduate research assistants (GRAs) on several research projects

Outreach and Administrative (5% of time) 

• Initiate, coordinate, and approve the hiring of new GRA positions; 
  - Participate in the hiring process of other positions in the Institute; 
• Disseminate IURIFâ™s research via presentations in seminars and conferences;
• Coordinate the communication effort of IURIF through its website, social media accounts, or other venues.

Problem Solving: Requires solutions to modestly technical or operational problems and generally resolved using conventional or standard procedures.

Independence and Decision-Making: Typically works under general supervision but has the discretion to make daily operational decisions; given understanding of best practices and the way similar units run elsewhere, is able to convincingly recommend capital and process improvements to the area.

Pay Rate: $72,000-$80,000

Schedule: Hybrid

Required Qualifications:

• Masterâ™s degree in public affairs or related social science (public administration and policy, economics, political science, urban studies, etc.)
• 2+ years of experience in policy issues related to infrastructure development, public budgeting, public finance, and public financial management
• One or more years of research training
• Proficiency with data collection and applied research (statistical analysis, surveys, interviews, or case studies)
• Proficiency with MS Office and statistical and qualitative data analysis software (e.g., R, GIS, and dedoose)
• Effective technical writing and presentation skills
• Organizational skills and ability to multitask to manage demands of multiple projects and partners

Preferred Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience in policy issues related to infrastructure development, public budgeting, public finance, and public financial management.
• Substantive knowledge of Minnesotaâ™s highway funding
• Experience working with state and local governments
• Proficiency in data visualization or spatial data analysis and/or strong skills with qualitative research methods (questionnaires, surveys, interviews, etc.)
• Track record of professional publications, such as peer-reviewed articles or multi-media content
  

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities

Job Tags

Interim role, Local area,

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