Policy Analyst

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is seeking to hire a planner or policy analyst to lead and/or contribute to regional planning and policy projects in northeastern Illinois. The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate thorough knowledge of public policy, urban and regional planning practice, and an understanding of environmental, social, land use, and transportation considerations in planning.

This position will be housed within CMAP’s Regional Policy and Implementation (RPI) division. Work conducted by this division primarily pertains to regional- and state-scale issues. Successful candidates will assist in or be responsible for quantitative and qualitative analysis across a range of topics, which likely include climate, economic, and/or transportation planning and policy. Examples of work to which the successful candidate could contribute include:

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• A plan to modernize and fully fund the region’s transit system.
• A regional climate action plan.
• A new regional comprehensive plan.
• An approach to transportation asset resilience under a changing climate.
• A report on the disparate impacts of property tax policy in Cook County.
• An index that measures local-level susceptibility to flooding.
• An analytical approach to promoting equitable infrastructure investments.
• A plan that sets criteria to guide federal transportation capital investments in northeastern Illinois.

The selected candidate may be hired into an associate, analyst /planner, or senior level position based on their professional experience . Candidates with education and experience in public policy and /or urban planning are welcomed.

See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.

Duties and Responsibilities

Key functions the employee will be expected to perform regularly :

• Manages multiple staff-led and/or consultant-led projects from inception to completion.
• Establishes objectives and timelines to ensure effective completion of projects. Supports colleagues and others to further the implementation of CMAP’s regional plan.
• Assists project managers and participates on project teams that requires conducting analyses, investigations, preparing recommendations, reports, and data visualizations.
• Designs or contributes to empirical research processes, data collection, data quality assurance, and data contextualization through analysis, data visualization, and written plan content to policy analysis and development projects and assists in other project related tasks.
• Leads or supports outreach for projects, including strategy development, meeting attendance and planning.
• Guides projects through preparation for external consideration with Government Affairs and Communications and contributes effectively to various efforts to promote policies and projects to broader audiences.
• Leads research, analysis, and content to reports regarding new directions for CMAP's regional plan development and policy analysis of relevant legislation or administrative initiatives.
• Builds and maintains positive relations with external partners, stakeholders, and communities. Serves on committees, task forces, and other bodies where CMAP representation is needed.

Required Skills and Abilities

Minimum knowledge and skill necessary to perform the role :

• Thorough knowledge of public policy, urban and/or regional planning practice, and an understanding of environmental, social, land use, and transportation considerations in planning.
• Skill in general principles of research, data collection and analysis, and technical writing and data visualization.
• Excellent writing and communication skills; effectively communicates technical information to external and internal audiences orally, in writing, and in presentation form.
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• Skill in utilizing spreadsheets, and skills or familiarity with statistical and/or geospatial analysis.
• Ability to analyze and systematically compile technical information and to prepare technical reports.

Education and Experience

R equired and preferred education and professional experience for the position :

Associate

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, urban affairs, public policy, political science, or a related field.
• Exposure to planning through internships and/or limited professional practice is preferred.

Analyst

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, urban affairs, public policy, political science, or a related field.
• 2 years directly applicable professional experience (not including research assistantships or internships).
• Master's degree preferred.

Senior

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, urban affairs, public policy, political science, or a related field.
• 5 years directly applicable professional experience (not including research assistantships or internships).
• Master's degree preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Prolonged periods of sitting.

Salary ranges

CMAP positions are categorized across 12 grades with salary ranges for each grade. When hiring, CMAP considers multiple factors — for example, experience and education — to determine starting salary. Most often, this is between the starting and mid-point of the grade range.

Minimum to midpoint ranges

Associate: $57,746 - $70,739

Analyst: $66,409 - $81,351

Senior: $73,375 - $93,553