Research Manager, Urban Sustainability

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions. We organize our work around three impact areas: land and water; land and fiscal systems; and land and communities. We envision a world where cities and regions prosper and benefit from coordinated land use planning and public finance; where communities thrive from efficient and equitable allocation of limited land resources; and where stewardship of land and water resources ensures a livable future.

The Land and Communities team at the Lincoln Institute helps local leaders adopt and implement land policies that expand access to secure and affordable housing, mitigate and adapt to climate change, and create local economies that work for everyone. We accomplish our mission by conducting timely and relevant research, building networks and sharing knowledge, supporting and scaling innovation, and strengthening the capacity of local leaders, including community-based organizations, planners, practitioners, and policymakers.

We envision a world in which every person can be part of a community that is thriving, inclusive, healthy, and resilient. And we see a path to get there through forward-looking land policies that prioritize public good over private profit, are developed through participatory planning processes, leverage resources and partnerships from across sectors, and are grounded in the best available data and evidence.

We organize and advance our work through three program areas:

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  Urban Sustainability, which helps local leaders in cities and urban regions anticipate and respond to climate change and build communities that are resilient and sustainable.

  
  

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  Equity and Opportunity, which helps local leaders in smaller cities and cities experiencing population loss, adopt and implement inclusive economic development strategies that contribute to broadly shared prosperity.

  
  

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  Land and Housing, which helps local leaders leverage research and innovative land policies to produce and preserve quality affordable housing, protect residents from displacement, build wealth through housing, and develop land for housing more efficiently and resiliently.

  
  

The Research Manager is a member of the Urban Sustainability team; you will design, execute, and disseminate policy-relevant research across the team's two programs: Sustainable Urban Form and Climate Mobility and Displacement.

You will work on activities across the research lifecycle (e.g., design, implementation, and translation into practice) and engage with other researchers in cross-Institute initiatives and learning. These projects will position the Lincoln Institute at the forefront of evidence-based policy recommendations for sustainable, climate-resilient land-use planning and policy implementation globally. While you may support other projects across the Institute, the following projects will be your initial focus:

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  Climate-Resilient Development in the Americas: This project aims to equip local governments and urban planners with actionable data, spatial metrics, policy frameworks, and decision-support tools that advance climate-resilient urban form, promote equity, and support sustainable development. By researching and documenting current patterns of urban development and how they respond to climate risks, we aim to identify and disseminate context-specific land policies to advance climate-resilient urban form in the U.S. and Latin America.

  
  

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  Sustainable Metropolitan Regions: Recognizing that environmental and socioeconomic issues transcend jurisdictional boundaries, this project focuses on regional governance models and metropolitan planning of housing, infrastructure, and land use to support thriving, inclusive, healthy, and resilient communities. We aim to conduct policy-relevant research to develop tools and resources that are responsive to the needs of regional planning practitioners.

  
  

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  Climate Migration Receiving Communities: This project aims to help communities anticipate and prepare for a potential increase in population due to climate-induced relocation in ways that set the stage for benefit to longstanding and new residents alike. By participating in a global research network, commissioning place-based workshops with the Lincoln Institute's Consortium for Scenario Planning, and researching global policies and practices, this work will illuminate the ways in which land policy can facilitate equitable climate migration.

  
  

This is a full-time, fixed-term position for two years. This position can be based in the Lincoln Institute's Cambridge, MA, Washington, DC, or Phoenix, AZ, offices.

Research and Knowledge Development:

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  Co-develop and execute research to ensure programmatic objective alignment and policy relevant findings that translate into strategic actions

  
  

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  Manage discrete research and related projects

  
  

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  Author publications, develop curricula, and teach Institute-affiliated training

  
  

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  Ensure compliance with organizational policies and regulatory standards.

  
  

Strategy and Planning Actions:

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  Participate in the development, enrichment, and execution of medium-term team strategies.

  
  
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  Guide creative and/or technical project development through measurement, evaluation, and delivery of anticipated results, pivoting as needed.

  
  

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  Develop partnerships with other organizations.

  
  

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  Identify external funding opportunities and develop funding proposals.

  
  

Stakeholder Engagement:

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  Guide project teams and partner with internal stakeholders.

  
  
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  Collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve project goals.

  
  

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  Foster and maintain stakeholder relationships and external partnerships to advance key initiatives

  
  

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  Ensure clarity and alignment of work through active communication

  
  

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  All other duties as determined

  
  

• 6 or more years of relevant experience designing, conducting, and translating evidence-driven research to real-world applications.
• Undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and conduct complex projects to fruition.
• Demonstrated ability to develop successful competitive fundraising proposals.
• Strong sense of curiosity and willingness to learn.
• Effective communication and leadership skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other cloud-based work tools.
  
  

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  8 - 10 years of relevant experience (experience gained through a graduate or PhD program could serve as a portion of the required years of experience)

  
  

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  Graduate degree or PhD/terminal degree in a related field

  
  

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  Existing relationships with domestic and international organizations working with similar focus areas.

  
  

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  Fluency in Spanish, Portuguese, or French.

  
  

Include but are not limited to (a) 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%, (b) health insurance, (c) dental insurance, (d) vision insurance, (e) 100% reimbursement of the health care deductible through a health reimbursement account, (f) short-term disability coverage, (g) long term disability coverage, (h) paid parental leave, (i) voluntary insurances such as accident insurance, (j) health care flexible spending, (k) dependent care flexible spending, (l) paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty, (m) office closure between December 24 - Jan 1 each calendar year, (n) flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek, (o) tuition and staff development reimbursement, (p) pet insurance, and (q) Employee Assistance Program.

Please submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter should succinctly describe your interest to join the team, why you are qualified, and what relevant expertise and experience you offer. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The salary market range for this role is posted above and is dependent on the level of education and years of experience. We value internal and external equity and encourage those who may be missing qualifications to submit their materials still.

Cooperation and Teamwork,Forthright Feedback,Initiative,Acceptance of Responsibility,Multicultural Sensitivity

The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment by hiring, training, promoting, and carrying out personnel procedures with respect to compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, or terminations, on the basis of individual merit, experience, and ability without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture, length of hair, protective hairstyles or cultural or religious headdresses), color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), ancestry, citizenship status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, military service, serious medical condition, expunged juvenile record, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a victim, credit information, homelessness status, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by law or otherwise.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a Non-Smoking organization. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy at all times, including, but not limited to indoor and outdoor grounds, walkways and sidewalks, parking lots, company vehicles, and private vehicles parked on Lincoln Institute of Land Policy property.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.