Lead Researcher, Housing and Cities

Through field-leading policy research, advocacy, and strategy development, the Lead Researcher, Housing and Cities, will play a pivotal role in Sightline's efforts to create housing abundance as a solution to multiple pressing challenges: affordability, climate change, equity, and sprawl. They will help develop and drive pro-housing policy at the local and state level, with a core goal to loosen restrictions on homebuilding that limit home choices, segregate neighborhoods, push lower-income people out, force burdensome, polluting commutes, and prevent Cascadian cities from welcoming new residents.

The Lead Researcher will report to Sightline's Senior Director of Housing and Cities and collaborate with staff and contributors in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia. They will be part of a high-functioning, collaborative cadre of researchers, communicators, and advocates, supported by a strong administrative and fundraising team.

Essential Responsibilities

• Work as a thought leader, policy researcher, analyst, writer, communicator, and advocate.
• Develop and deploy expertise on policies to create housing abundance, primarily zoning reform, but also other types of reforms that Sightline has identified as promising.
• Implement strategies for using information and communications to help win passage of these reforms, often in coordination with cross-partisan coalitions.
• Focus on state legislation in Washington, but also engage on efforts in Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, or in local jurisdictions if opportunities arise.
• Write articles, policy memos, and talking points; and create graphics, give presentations, serve as a resource to the media, and lobby public officials.
• Cultivate relationships with leaders and partners across many types of diversity, including racial, ethnic, economic, geographic, and political.
• Coordinate, and as appropriate, supervise team members or contributors; provide mentorship and help foster a collaborative team environment, including cross-team initiatives.

Desired Skills and Experience

• At least eight years of professional experience in policy development, research, analysis, and/or legislative strategy, preferably related to land use and housing regulations.
• Ability to quickly master new subject matter areas and sift through large amounts of information to distill key points and develop practical, strategic, and compelling arguments.
• Top-notch written and oral communication skills, to succinctly and accurately convey complicated information to diverse audiences.
• Comfort and skill working both independently and on teams to manage workplans, set and meet deadlines, and prioritize among competing responsibilities.
• A track record of building respectful and effective relationships and collaborations with people across differences, including racial, ethnic, gender, cultural, and political differences.
• An eagerness to learn and incorporate feedback.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in your work.
• Experience working with government preferred, but not required.
• Special consideration will be given to candidates with advanced experience in GIS, real estate development economics, or demographics number crunching.
• Commitment to Sightline’s mission and values.

Sightline believes in mentoring talent and providing opportunities for growth. We've intentionally built flexibility into this role, and we're open to candidates who may not yet meet every qualification listed, if they bring strong foundational skills, sharp instincts, and a clear ability to grow into the responsibilities described. If you see yourself in this work, we encourage you to apply.

Compensation and Benefits: 

As part of our commitment to equity and in an effort to reduce bias, Sightline has established salary bands for each position level. The salary range for the lead researcher level is $106,000-$125,000 (plus 10 percent retirement as noted below). Sightline is committed to supporting team members along their career pathways by encouraging learning and providing mentoring and training. Employees can earn annual merit raises and periodic promotions.

We offer a robust package of benefits including a 401(k) plan with employer contribution of 10 percent of salary (added to, not subtracted from, pay, so for example, a $106,000 salary at Sightline is equivalent to a $116,600 salary at an organization that makes no employer contribution to retirement).

Benefits also include:

• Full medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee and partial coverage for dependents
• Four weeks of paid vacation
• Twelve paid holidays annually
• Two weeks of paid health, wellness, and care leave, plus access to a shared pool of additional leave for special circumstances
• A guarantee of 12 weeks paid parental leave
• A three-month paid sabbatical every seven years
• A monthly remote work stiped
• Regular staff gatherings for in-person connection

Since Sightline is a nonprofit organization, employees are also eligible to apply for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Sightline’s staff members work hard but enjoy balanced lives and a collegial organizational culture.