University of Washington Housing Researcher

University of Washington’s Housing Futures Center in the College of Built Environments has an outstanding opportunity for a Housing Researcher to join their team.

About this Opportunity

The Housing Researcher will serve as the primary staff researcher for the Housing Futures Center and will support all housing-related research initiatives within the Center. Working closely with the Center Director and in partnership with faculty and researchers across the University of Washington, the Housing Researcher manages interdisciplinary research projects, supports efforts to secure external research funding, disseminates research findings, and advances evidence-based housing policy and practice. The role supports the Center's mission to improve housing outcomes through rigorous research, community engagement, and policy impact.

The Housing Researcher will advance the University's research mission by leading externally funded housing research programs and producing high-impact scholarly and policy-relevant research. The position contributes to the University's reputation as a leader in housing research, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and expands engagement with governmental, nonprofit, philanthropic, and community partners. Research findings inform housing policy and practice affecting communities across Washington State and beyond.

This position requires leadership of multiple complex research initiatives involving diverse stakeholders, funding sources, and methodological approaches. The holder of this position must lead multiple research projects, manage research funding, support efforts to secure external funding, manage competing project priorities, balance academic rigor with community needs, and effectively communicate findings to both scholarly and non-technical audiences. Success requires substantial expertise in housing research, stakeholder engagement, and project management

About This Team

The Housing Futures Center at the University of Washington’s College of Built Environments is a bold, forward-looking initiative designed to address Washington’s most pressing housing challenges, both today and in the years ahead. The Center builds capacity and advances informed decision-making by integrating research, education, and community engagement to support policymakers, advocates, developers, housing providers, tenants, and homeowners in shaping a future where every Washingtonian has access to housing.

Key Responsibilities

25% – Research Leadership and Program Development

• Support strategic leadership for the Housing Futures Center's research agenda. Support the development and execution of complex, multidisciplinary housing research projects. Ensure scientific rigor, methodological excellence, and high-quality research outputs. Identify emerging research opportunities and develop innovative research initiatives aligned with the Center's mission. Manage research timelines, deliverables, and project priorities across multiple concurrent initiatives.

35% - Research execution and dissemination

• Design and oversee quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods research studies, with a particular emphasis on applied research. Author and co-author peer-reviewed journal articles, policy briefs, technical reports, and other scholarly products. Present research findings at academic conferences, public forums, and stakeholder meetings. Translate research findings into accessible products that inform policy and practice.

15% - Support efforts to secure research funding

• Support the development of competitive grant proposals to public agencies, foundations, and other funding organizations. Collaborate with faculty investigators and external partners to secure research funding.

15% – Strategic Partnerships and External Engagement

• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with government agencies, community organizations, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic partners. Represent the Housing Futures Center in regional and national collaborations. Identify opportunities for research that informs evidence-based housing policy and practice. Support the Center's efforts to increase its visibility and impact among policymakers, practitioners, and academic audiences.

10% – Mentorship and Research Capacity Building

• Mentor research staff, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and affiliated researchers. Provide guidance on research methodology, study design, data analysis, and scholarly dissemination. Foster a collaborative research environment that supports interdisciplinary inquiry and innovation. Contribute to the development of research infrastructure, systems, and best practices within the Center.

Position Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity, your application must demonstrate that you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree in urban planning, public policy, sociology, economics, geography, social work, public health, or a closely related field
• A minimum of four years of progressively responsible research experience in an academic, policy, government, or research organization setting, broadly related to housing, which could include housing policy, housing markets, housing development, homelessness, housing affordability, community development, or closely related areas.

Additional Qualifications

• Demonstrated training in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, including mixed methods approaches. Experience conducting research with quantitative data and analysis is required. Record of a growing research agenda, including scholarly publications, policy reports, and public dissemination of research findings. Experience leading or supporting complex research projects and managing multiple priorities simultaneously. Experience in grant writing and research funding development. Experience collaborating with community organizations, public agencies, and other external stakeholders. Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills. Ability to communicate research findings effectively to both academic and non-academic audiences.

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in urban planning, public policy, sociology, economics, geography, social work, public health, or a closely related field. Established national or regional reputation in housing research. Experience conducting applied research related to housing instability, homelessness, affordable housing, or housing systems. Experience supervising research staff and mentoring graduate students or early-career researchers. Experience with a range of research methods and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: working with large administrative datasets, survey research, a range of quantitative methods, qualitative research, and community-engaged research methods. Demonstrated ability to translate research into policy and practice. Experience working within a multidisciplinary research center or university-based research institute

Application Requirements

Please provide a resume and a cover letter to introduce yourself, your applicable background, and your interest in working with this team.