Summary: Under the direction and supervision of the VP of Real Estate Development, with support of the VP of Strategy & Information, the Housing Policy Research Intern supports Maiker Housing Partners’ mission and strategic priorities by conducting targeted, high-quality research that accelerates and clarifies decision-making in real estate development, programming, and service delivery for the members we serve.

This temporary, short-term, project-based role is designed for a graduate-level public policy or public administration student who can synthesize complex information, translate it into practical insights, and produce clear written deliverables for internal leaders. The intern will work across publicly available data sources (policy, program, development, and community context) to help Maiker identify options, assess tradeoffs, and strengthen implementation approaches.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Duties may vary depending on active projects and organizational priorities.)

• Policy & Practice Research: Conduct rapid and deep-dive research on housing policy, affordable housing finance, real estate development tools, and program/service delivery models relevant to Maiker’s work (local, state, and federal as applicable).
• Development Support Research: Support the Real Estate Development team by researching comparable projects, funding structures, regulatory requirements, market context, and implementation considerations to inform project scoping and decision-making.
• Program & Service Delivery Research: Research evidence-informed practices and peer agency approaches to strengthen resident programming, housing stability efforts, and service delivery strategies; identify practical options and implementation steps.
• Synthesis & Briefing Materials: Translate findings into clear, decision-oriented deliverables (e.g., 2–5 page briefs, one-page option memos, annotated bibliographies, slide summaries, or meeting materials to read ahead) tailored to internal audiences.
• Data-Informed Insight: Where relevant, incorporate simple quantitative and qualitative analysis (e.g., summarizing administrative data, reviewing dashboards, compiling public datasets, or coding themes from stakeholder input) to strengthen recommendations and clarify tradeoffs.
• Stakeholder Interviews & Listening: Conduct structured interviews or listening sessions with internal staff and, when appropriate, external partners to capture operational realities and incorporate practitioner and member perspectives into research outputs.
• Project Management & Work Planning: Maintain an organized workplan for assigned research tasks, including timelines, source tracking, version control, and clear status updates to supervisors.
• Knowledge Management: Create a reusable library of sources, notes, and deliverables so work can be easily referenced and built upon after the internship concludes.
• Other Duties as Assigned: Support additional research or writing tasks that advance Maiker’s strategic priorities.

Example Deliverables (Illustrative)

• Short research brief on a specific development or financing question (e.g., special population service frameworks, LIHTC structure considerations, local incentives, zoning/land use constraints, partnership models).
• Option memo comparing 2–4 program/service delivery approaches with pros/cons, risks, and implementation considerations.
• Peer scan of comparable housing authorities/developers and what appears to be working (and under what conditions).
• Annotated bibliography and source library with summaries, links, and relevance notes for future staff use.
• Slide deck or one-page summary to support leadership discussion and decision-making.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education and Experience

• Current enrollment in a graduate program in Public Policy, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Housing Studies, or a closely related field; Master’s-level student preferred.
• Demonstrated interest in housing policy and affordable housing systems; interest in connecting policy research to real-world implementation in development, programming, and service delivery.
• Experience producing clear written research outputs (e.g., memos, briefs, policy analyses, literature reviews, or capstone coursework) for academic or professional audiences.
• Experience or coursework related to policy analysis, program evaluation, economics, public finance, or housing/community development is strongly preferred.
• Exposure to local government, nonprofit, community-based, or public-sector environments preferred.

Qualifications

• Research & Analytical Skills: Strong ability to locate, assess, and synthesize information from policy documents, academic research, government guidance, and practitioner sources; able to distinguish signal from noise and cite sources clearly.
• Writing & Communication: Exceptional writing skills with an ability to translate complex topics into clear, usable products for busy leaders; comfort presenting findings verbally in 1:1s or small group settings.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to connect research findings to Maiker’s mission, member experience, and operational realities; able to frame tradeoffs and implementation considerations.
• Organization, Independence & Follow-Through: Highly self-directed and able to work independently with minimal day-to-day direction; strong time management and judgment to clarify goals, identify next steps, and deliver high-quality work products on schedule while managing multiple research tasks and deadlines.
• Collaboration & Professionalism: Ability to build working relationships with staff across different functional areas; discretion and respect for confidentiality.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort learning new tools; experience with research databases and citation methods. Familiarity with basic data analysis (Excel, simple statistics) preferred.
• Equity & Community-Centered Lens: Commitment to respectful, people-centered work and an understanding of how housing systems and policy decisions affect residents and communities.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an intern encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The intern is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The intern may occasionally be required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop or kneel. The intern must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. Occasional travel to Maiker sites or partner locations may be requested with advance notice.