Policy & Research Analyst

About the role

The Times Square Alliance is seeking a highly motivated Policy & Research Analyst interested in the intersection of policy, data, government, economic and neighborhood development, and the public realm. The Analyst will work closely with the Director and the Policy, Planning and Research team on some of the most immediate and complex urban issues — from homelessness, street vending, and pedicab regulation, to economic development, placemaking, and the management and improvement of public space. We are looking for someone who is comfortable moving between analytical, government relations, and people-oriented work, in service of the Alliance’s larger mission. The right person is interested not only in researching how cities work best, but in helping make things happen and in communicating ideas clearly — whether through a report, a dataset, a presentation, a survey, or a well-designed graphic. The Analyst reports to the Director of Policy & Research. This role is multifaceted with duties ranging from updating the Alliance's economic indicators to analyzing real estate indicators, NYC Open Data, or building/maintaining Tableau dashboards, helping draft testimony, researching a piece of legislation, designing reports in InDesign/Illustrator, preparing for a meeting with a City agency, or helping to get a new initiative off the ground. The position involves both ongoing responsibilities and the unexpected projects that come with working at the center of New York City. The Times Square Alliance, a Business Improvement District founded in 1992, aims to make Times Square a global destination and the most desirable New York City neighborhood. Its mission is to keep Times Square clean and safe while working to improve and promote the neighborhood so it remains an unparalleled experience for employees, visitors, and New Yorkers.

Responsibilities

• Support the Policy, Planning & Research Department’s ongoing research and data analysis as well as regularly reporting on economic indicators and other research.
• Analyze and maintain datasets related to Times Square and broader New York City trends.
• Track legislation, policy developments, agency actions, and news relevant to the Alliance's work and research issues including homelessness, street vending, pedicabs, public space, economic development, transportation, and other matters affecting the Times Square district.
• Use Excel, Tableau, and R/Python to analyze and present data and to identify useful trends and findings.
• Create clear and visually compelling charts, maps, dashboards, reports, presentations, and other materials.
• Find and explore new datasets and sources that could help the Alliance better characterize Times Square’s economic and demographic profile.
• Develop and analyze surveys and communicate the results.
• Help prepare for meetings with government and community partners, including researching, developing talking points, preparing presentations, and conducting follow-up as well as writing testimony.