Senior Research Analyst in Nashville, Tennessee at Tennessee Housing Development Agency

Critical features of this job are described under the headings below. They may be subject to change due to changes in our business processes or other business-related reasons.

POSITION SUMMARY: This individual is responsible for developing a strategy for integrating the Consolidated Planning process and associated reporting into the administration of state and federal programs as well as leading the associated data collection, analysis, and reporting within agency divisions, and with state and federal agencies.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Leads the preparation of the statewide comprehensive housing plans and reports in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations, including the Consolidated Plan, and annual Action Plan, Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER), and Substantial Amendments.

• Develops and leads the strategy for the phases of data collection, analysis, reporting, and dissemination of findings for reporting associated with Fair Housing rulings, Title VI, and all other federal reporting.

• Coordinates data collection for federal grants programs within state agencies including ECD and the DOH

• Streamlines communication between internal and external partners to ensure timely and accurate data collection, and dissemination of findings.

• Builds and manages relationships with program division leaders, external agency leaders, public housing agencies, and a variety of stakeholders across the state

• Builds quantitative models for determining supply and demand of affordable housing, and associated scoring mechanisms to guide programs.

• Monitors federal regulations for changes and impacts to programs and organizational planning and communicating implications with affected parties.

• Develop trainings and materials for external and internal partners to engage with federal reporting as needed.

• Conducting analysis of programs using administrative data to offer insights as needed to program leaders.

• Receives and responds to requests for information from other divisions, the public, agency partners, private organizations, and other governmental agencies, in accordance with organizational customer service guidelines.

• Analyzes and evaluates policy implications; presents relevant findings in writing and in multimedia reports, articles, policy issue briefs, working papers, study findings, fact sheets and executive summaries.

• Plans and participates in multimedia presentations and public meetings at venues across the state.

• Sources, collects, and utilizes special purpose data for planning and programmatic purposes.

• Completes other technical, analytical, GIS-related, and administrative projects as needed.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, public administration, or closely related field including at least one course in statistics and one upper-division or graduate course in discipline-specific research methodology required

• At least four years of related experience required.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas is preferred: housing programs; social programs; community development; survey administration; construction or design (including energy efficient construction); local government policy (property taxes and assessment, zoning, etc.)

The above qualifications express the minimum standards of education and/or experience for this position. Other combinations of education and experience, if evaluated as equivalent, may be taken into consideration.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies:

• Stellar organizational skills; ability to handle multiple priorities and consistently meet established deadlines.

• Ability to clean, merge, and engineer large administrative datasets using R, Stata, or other comparable software.

• Ability to conduct descriptive statistical analysis (e.g. cross-tabulations, regressions, and chi-square tests) using syntax or code in R, Stata, or other comparable software.

• Builds and maintains positive relationships with internal and external constituents.

• Ability to synthesize complex policy and programmatic information into actionable items for program leaders

• Ability to write professional and technical reports, involving combinations of maps, graphs, charts, tables and text, for diverse audiences.

• Exercises good judgment in evaluating complex situations.

• Exercises good and consistently fair judgment, courtesy, and tact in dealing with the staff and public in giving and obtaining information.

• Ability to adjust to frequent procedural changes.

• Shows a high level of attention to detail and accuracy.

• Exercises critical inquiry about processes and mechanisms associated with reporting.

• Competent in effective public speaking.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and the internet; able to effectively adapt to and use other computer systems as needed for daily activities.

• Consistently documents communication and work products in an accurate and timely manner.

Special Demands:

The special demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a staff member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Current, valid driver’s license from domicile state and the ability to drive.

• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel, including overnight travel.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and talk and hear.

• The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel, or crouch.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.