Policy and Data Analyst

The
Policy and Data Analyst
position is essential to support the
Policy, Data, and Communications team's
goal of developing and messaging on housing and homelessness policy that is responsive to community needs and aligned with industry best practices. The increased scale and scope of the Department's work over the past year, including new initiatives addressing unsheltered homelessness and standing up the Care Navigation component of the Raleigh CARES alternative response program, has created a need for increased capacity in
policy and data analysis and stakeholder engagement.

About You:

Our ideal candidate is a policy professional who brings strong subject matter expertise and knowledge of the broad housing ecosystem. The
Policy & Data Analyst
can navigate complex policy and political matters and environments and build trust-based, professional relationships with diverse stakeholders to help advance the Department's policy and messaging goals.

In addition to policy duties, the ideal candidate is comfortable with collecting, monitoring, and reporting homelessness and housing data – and adept at reviewing and analyzing materials to help ensure accuracy and consistency of data across Departmental materials. The
Policy & Data Analyst
supports the team to develop prompt and thoughtful responses to information requests from Council and the public and helps tell the story of the Department's work products through data visualizations, presentations, and other public-facing materials.

About Us:

The Housing and Community Development Department is committed to improving and maintaining the quality of life and environment for all Raleigh citizens through a variety of programs and activities throughout the city. The Department provides funding for the creation and preservation of affordable housing and for services and programs benefiting low to moderate income residents. The Department enforces codes to ensure safe and decent housing and carries out neighborhood revitalization and neighborhood enrichment activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Policy Analysis:

• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary Policy, Data, & Communications team to advance shared goals related to ending homelessness and producing affordable housing
• Provide input on housing policies, strategies, and funding
• Participate in the development of policies, funding strategies, action plans, long-range plans, and redevelopment proposals
• Build strong working relationships across departments to contribute to effective cross-departmental coordination and help align policy initiatives with optimal service delivery and community needs
• Support in the development of clear materials for Council, City and Department leadership, and other key audiences that are responsive to political and community priorities
• Contribute constructively to a team in planning Department-led events, meetings, and knowledge-sharing opportunities

Data Oversight:

• Contribute to presentations, briefings, and reports to Council, City management, and community partners by preparing high-quality data summaries and visualizations
• Help develop prompt responses to requests from City Council, City leadership, and the public, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and timeliness
• Ensure data is collected and conveyed in a way that is accessible and meaningful for a layperson
• Monitor and report on policy outcomes, program performance, and emerging trends to support continuous improvement
• Advise on best strategies to tell the most compelling and accurate story with relevant data
• Help advance the team's data governance and management efforts to include the following:
• Develop and maintain metadata documentation including a data catalog
• Collaborate with data owners and users to promote data quality awareness and accountability.
• Support the assignment and understanding of data ownership roles across the department
• Promote best practices for data usage and documentation
• Updates, as needed, data governance policies and procedures
• Support grant administration and compliance through overseeing data collection including financial and budget data for federal and non-federal grants
• Assist in the oversight and enforcement of SharePoint and digital data policies and practices, as well as hard-copy files and documents
• Aid in the oversight of record retention practices for Department
• Prepare the fiscal and program data elements for the HUD-requirement Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation report (CAPER)
• Perform regular data audits and clean-up
• Analyze financial and other data, help shape budget priorities, and assist with guiding Department fiscal policy through data and trend analysis and modeling

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders to support effective homelessness and affordable housing policy development
• Help translate complex policy issues into clear, accessible information for multiple audiences, including partners and the public
• Gather, synthesize, and integrate stakeholder input into policy recommendations
• Contribute to materials to support public engagement processes and public meetings, in collaboration with communications team members

Typical Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field, and 1 to 3 years' experience in finance, business, economics, grant management, or a related field

OR

Any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities may be substituted

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration or related field, and 1 to 3 years' experience in public policy, public administration, data analysis, policy analysis, or a related field
• Valid North Carolina Class C Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain within 60 days of hire