Policy Analyst, Land and Water

Our Mission

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.



Team Overview

The Land and Water team of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy focuses on sustaining land, water and other natural resources to support both human and ecosystem health. It works to integrate land and water considerations into planning and infrastructure, ensuring current and future needs are met while balancing competing demands among diverse stakeholders. By advancing policies and practices that restore biodiversity, protect watersheds, and improve soil health, the impact area promotes healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities.

The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, a center of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy housed within the Land and Water impact area, seeks to advance the integration of land and water management to meet the current and future water needs of communities, economies, and the environment. We develop tools and best practices to guide decisions through research, training, and partnerships for sustainable management of land and water resources.

Position Overview

The policy analyst monitors emerging trends in land and water policy, examining laws, regulations, and best practices to design actionable, evidence-based recommendations. It supports governments and stakeholders by translating complex technical issues into clear strategies and frameworks that integrate land and water planning for resilience and sustainable decision-making.

This role requires up to 10% travel, primarily domestic travel with limited international travel.

What You’ll Do

• Monitor trends in land and water policy to identify opportunities for innovation and Institutional leadership
• Keep track of new laws, regulations, debates, and best practices
• Review existing and emerging policies related to the team’s programs, specifically, land use, water allocation and use, water quality and security, and climate resilience
• Evaluate policy tradeoffs and design actionable recommendations tailored to governments, agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical and policy issues into clear, practical strategies.
• Support state, regional, and municipal governments in integrating land and water planning into decision-making through sound policy investigation and research.
• Develop frameworks to help policymakers and other stakeholders apply best practices.
• Research and scrutinize land policies relating to the following:
• the advancement of planning tools and strategies to support smart land and water integration in planning, and land and water management;
• new approaches to identify the local, state, regional, and federal actions that will enable communities to address challenges and opportunities effectively;
• Author and edit various research publications.
• Present at conferences and workshops the lessons learned from your work and more generally on behalf of the Institute.
• Perform other ad hoc tasks as requested.