LVPC GIS Planner-Senior GIS Planner Job Description

Overview

Responsibilities

Basic Qualifications

Job Description:

The Data and Policy Manager plays a lead role in developing performance measurement systems, researching and monitoring legislation and supporting the Department of Commerce with research and data analysis. In addition to these tasks, the Data and Policy Manager is a key GIS resource for the Department. The Manager reports to the Chief of Staff, while also providing support to all of the Deputies within Commerce.

Core Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain departmental case management databases;
• Establish methodology and metrics for measuring the impact of departmental programs;
• Serve as point person for Commerce to the City’s Department of Performance Management; coordinate with data liaisons from each departmental unit to ensure that data tracking is optimized and that data entry is occurring as needed.
• Perform research and provide data to produce marketing materials, annual reports, and other documents for publication.
• Serve as a point person for the Mayor’s Office of Legislative Affairs for legislation pertaining to commerce, researching the impact of proposed legislation and providing feedback and suggestions as needed;
• Support business attraction and retention efforts through business lead research, coordinating responses to requests for information and producing presentations;
• Track and summarize data related to the health of Philadelphia’s economy (i.e. unemployment, job creation, etc.);
• Maintain the department’s spatial (GIS) data and serve as a GIS resource for the department;
• Produce analytic tools to influence decision-making, such as creating maps to analyze the impact of Commerce investments by neighborhood.
• Provide project-based support as needed through general research, writing assignments, or other activities; and
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to establish and foster relationships with cross sector partners and to work as a part of a collaborative team.
• Excellent self-direction and the ability to take ownership and drive responsibilities through to completion.
• Microsoft Office proficiency;
• Adobe Suite proficiency;
• ArcGIS proficiency;
• Knowledge of relational database principals;
• Technical expertise in statistical and economic analysis;
• 1-2 years experience in a related field;
• Graduate degree preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen or have legal permanent resident status;
• Must establish residency in the city of Philadelphia within six months of appointment.

To Apply:

Send a cover letter, resume and 2-page writing sample to Sopheap Heng at Sopheap.heng@phila.gov by April 22, 2016. Please use the following subject line on your email: Data & Policy- [your last name]. No phone calls please. Optional Additional Submission: up to 5 design portfolio pages or work sample illustrating graphic/mapping capabilities.

The City of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. 

BDP Project Manager Description

Provide research support and assistance to the team.  Performs certain regular tasks around the collection and analysis of core data, as well as a range of activities that contribute to and support the team’s production and delivery of research material.

• Researches and collects market information regarding the commercial real estate market.
• Gathers data on newly available properties, transactions, tenants, tenants in the market, and new developments and inputs data into appropriate databases.
• Performs regular maintenance and updates to property databases by conducting telephone surveys, on-site surveys, research forums, broker meetings, extracting data from brochures and other marketing materials, contacting civic organizations, outside agents, internet, and other sources.
• Implements Research processes to assure data quality is in accordance with corporate standards.
• Responds to ad hoc internal and external client requests for data, graphs, commentary, etc.
• Maintains accurate property and availability information relating to all properties managed by CBRE entities.
• Other duties may be assigned.

No formal supervisory responsibilities in this position.

• Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university; or Associate degree and a minimum of two years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to provide efficient, timely, reliable, and courteous service to customers.
• Ability to effectively present information.
• Requires knowledge of financial terms and principles.
• Ability to calculate intermediate figures such as percentages, discounts, and/or commissions.
• Conducts basic financial analysis.
• Ability to understand and carry out general instructions in standard situations.
• Ability to solve problems in standard situations.
• Requires intermediate analytical and quantitative skills.
• Ability to handle and manipulate large amounts of data.
• Intermediate experience with Microsoft Office.
• Possess a positive work attitude and ability to work in a team environment.
• Decisions made with general understanding of procedures and company policies to achieve set results and deadlines.
• Errors in judgment may cause short-term impact to co-workers and supervisor.

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The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public and invigorate civic life.

We are an independent nonprofit organization – the sole beneficiary of seven individual trusts established between 1948 and 1979 by two sons and two daughters of Sun Oil Company founder Joseph N. Pew and his wife, Mary Anderson Pew.

Our work lays the foundation for effective policy solutions by informing and engaging citizens, linking diverse interests to pursue common cause and insisting on tangible results. Our projects encourage efficient, responsive governments – at the local, state, national and international levels – serving the public interests.

With offices in Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Brussels and London and staff in other regions of the United States as well as Australia, Pew provides an exciting learning environment and the opportunity to work with highly talented individuals. We are a dynamic, rapidly evolving organization that values creativity and innovative thinking and fosters strong teamwork with mutual respect.

Philadelphia Research Initiative

The Philadelphia Research Initiative produces timely, well-documented and highly readable reports and issue briefs on issues facing Philadelphia for the benefit of decision makers, the news media and the public at large. The project conducts in-depth research in Philadelphia, using a range of methodologies, and looks beyond the city and region for relevant information from comparable locales. Some of the reports simply lay out the facts of a given issue. Others discuss research-based pros and cons of various policy options. On occasion, the project works to answer research questions posed by local officials. In all cases, the project and its staff stop short of advocacy for specific policies. The goal is to be a consistent and effective contributor to civic discourse in Philadelphia.

The project’s work product consists of the following elements:

• Major research reports that get to the bottom of complex and important issues, often making use of comparative examples from other cities.
• An annual State of the City report that scours existing databases to track trends on key indicators of the city’s vitality—from crime to employment to demographic change.
• Polling Philadelphians to track attitudes on key issues facing the city, views of elected leaders, the public’s sense of whether the city is heading in the right or wrong direction, and its views on specific policy issues.
• Shorter briefs on issues that require illumination but not full-length research reports.
• Frequent web analyses that update previous research.
• A monthly newsletter that highlights work that the project has published and intends to publish, cites research done by other organizations, and takes note of developments that do not lend themselves to lengthy treatment.
• Events highlighting the project’s work and engaging the public in conversations about the city’s problems and policy alternatives.

Much of the project’s work is done by its own staff, which must be able to conduct research in Philadelphia as well as other cities, interview key sources, and write, edit and package compelling studies and issue briefs. When specialized expertise is required, the project hires external consultants.

Position Overview

The Philadelphia Research Initiative is a Trusts-operated project that is part of the Philadelphia Program. Examples of the project’s work are available at www.pewtrusts.org/philaresearch.

The Officer reports to the Director, Philadelphia Research Initiative. The Officer’s job is to help conceptualize, design, and implement research and analysis on key issues affecting the city of Philadelphia.

The position is based in Pew’s Philadelphia, PA office. It is expected that this position is for a term period through September 30, 2016, with the possibility of an extension pending the success of the program, funding sources and board decisions on continued support.

Job Requirements

• Conduct background and primary research, including empirical analysis; compilation, analysis and presentation of data sets; literature reviews; and interviews. Identify possible topics and develop the scope of research needed to fully explore the topics.
• Conduct pre-survey literature searches and help draft public opinion surveys.
• Develop and write major policy research reports and shorter issue briefs that are relevant to policy deliberations and easily understood by the public, media and policymakers, often in collaboration with external writers and consultants. Prepare charts and tables as needed. Edit and proof draft documents for accuracy.
• Contribute to and/or supervise the monthly newsletter and web analyses.
• Manage external consultants hired for specific expertise as needed.
• Help implement effective dissemination techniques, including written products and online communications strategies, working with Pew’s Communications department.
• Monitor and identify emerging urban policy issues that are relevant to Philadelphia and to the priorities of the Philadelphia research initiative.
• Maintain and build a broad knowledge of research methodologies and practices. Participate in conferences, seminars and other professional development activities to keep current in broad range of urban policy issues.
• Help organize events that facilitate discussion of issues facing the city, sometimes working with outside partners, and that increase the initiative’s profile.
• Contribute to and participate in other work tasked to the initiative as well as broader Pew-related projects and activities.
• Assist staff in writing internal documentation and processing contracts for outside consultants. Help ensure that contracts and subgrants to be submitted to the Director are complete, accurate, and timely.

Requirements

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience, including demonstrated research, data collection, analytical, and writing skills, including a proven facility with quantitative data. Experience in public policy, the public sector, journalism or with nonprofits preferred, with evidence of increased responsibilities over time.
• Ability to synthesize and summarize large amounts of information and to focus quickly on the essence of an issue, determine whether it is ripe for in-depth analysis, and identify the means to examine it.
• A task-oriented style, with focus on achieving clear and ambitious goals. Demonstrated ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization. Able to develop and move projects forward with a high degree of independence and autonomy.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills, including ability to briefly summarize the essence of issues and means to address them. Clear, effective writing style.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to develop and manage productive relationships with consultants, partners and others who contribute to the development of a project by anticipating possible outcomes. Excellent listening skills.
• Ability to work professionally and collegially within a culture that emphasizes excellence and teamwork.
• Demonstrated time and project-management skills, including ability to meet multiple deadlines by maintaining a high level of organization.
• Attention to detail, including exacting standards to maintain accuracy and impartiality in all work products.
• Knowledge of current trends and issues affecting Philadelphia specifically and cities in general preferred.
• An advanced degree or equivalent work experience.

Travel

The position is based in Philadelphia, PA with overnight travel for meetings and conferences as required.

Compensation

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package, including a generous 401(k) plan, four weeks of vacation and flexible benefit options.

Pew is an equal opportunity employer.

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