Community & Economic Research Analyst

The Opportunity

Were looking for a Community & Economic Research Analyst who can take a research question work out what the data actually says and tell that story clearly to the people who need it. Youll source and analyze data build maps and measurement and turn the work into the reports and materials clients act on working most closely with our Director of Digital Innovation. This is a research and analysis role without staff management or a sales target and the person we want is as strong a thinker and writer as they are an analyst.

To Apply

Along with your resume please include a short writing sample: in about 300 words tell us about a place you know well and what the data about it does and does not capture.

Key Responsibilities

Research and communication. Read data for the story it tells shape it for the audience that needs it and produce the reports memos presentations and community-facing materials (including surveys and engagement tools) that carry it.

Source evaluate and analyze data. Demographic economic real estate and market data from public sources (Census/ACS assessor and public records GIS) proprietary platforms (Esri Business Analyst CoStar) and primary research; flag reliability gaps and limitations.

GIS and spatial analysis. Build maps market and site geographies and spatial analysis across the Esri/ArcGIS suite and produce the mapping and site-analysis components of our studies.

Measurement and evaluation. Build measurement frameworks and KPIs perform economic impact analysis (IMPLAN) and where no metric exists yet design the primary measures themselves so clients can see whether an initiative is working.

Feasibility and real estate analysis. Work with our consulting lead on the numbers behind feasibility studies and redevelopment strategy: market demand pro formas cap rates capital stacks and financing tools.

Dashboards and data visualization. Present findings clearly and interactively for the decision-makers who use them in whatever tools fit the project.

AI-supported work. Use LLM-based tools and agents to accelerate the work: automating data collection and cleaning prototyping internal tools and dashboards and standing up repeatable analytical workflows.

Qualifications: Required

Demonstrated ability to turn research into clear well-structured writing aimed at a specific reader whether a client a decision-maker or a public audience

Bachelors degree in analytics economics urban studies or planning geography public policy real estate or a related field

2-4 years of experience in research data or market analysis (strong internship and academic experience considered)

Proficiency with GIS (Esri/ArcGIS)

Ability to design visualizations a decision-maker can actually use and to assess data quality across sources

Working comfort with AI tools and interest in applying them to research and tool development

Qualifications: Preferred

Economic impact modeling (IMPLAN) and measurement and evaluation design

Real estate finance and feasibility (pro formas cap rates capital stacks financing tools)

Familiarity with a visualization or business-intelligence platform

Esri Business Analyst CoStar Claritas

Report and graphic design

Familiarity with community and real estate market dynamics

Interest in developing AI-supported data products

Reports to

Director of Digital Innovation

About Us

Altair Consulting Group provides data-driven advisory services to the developers institutions municipalities and community and economic development organizations that shape places and economies. We help clients understand their markets test feasibility and build the analysis behind investment and redevelopment decisions. Our roots are in community and municipal planning and that foundation informs a practice now centered on market and feasibility analysis economic impact and measurement and the data products and visualizations our clients use to act.