Position Announcement and Job Description:

Research Assistant, WCRP Program

Location: San Juan, Puerto Rico

 

Who We Are

Hispanic Federation (HF) is the nation's premier Latino nonprofit membership organization. Founded in 1990, HF supports Hispanic families and strengthens Latino institutions through grantmaking and direct services in the areas of education, health, immigration, civic engagement, economic empowerment, and the environment. Values that drive our work include equality, fairness, diversity, and empathy.

HF has maintained operations in Puerto Rico since 2018, shortly after Hurricane devastated Puerto Rico. The Whole Community Resiliency Planning (WCRP) is a project of Puerto Rico Department of Housing to execute a participatory planning process that facilitates the development of community scale resiliency plans that present holistic solutions to strengthen the community capacity to prepare, respond, recover and resiliency in the face of disasters.  As a participant, Hispanic Federation aims to work with communities in San Juan and Naguabo to identify vulnerabilities and resources available to produce long-term resiliency while addressing the impacts still present following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

 

Who We Seek

Hispanic Federation seeks a highly motivated and skilled Research Assistant to support ongoing research and the development of a Community Resilience Plan within the Puerto Rico office. The intern will work closely with the community outreach team and HF program managers to gather, analyze, and visualize data at a community level, produce community inventories, identify possible future funding for community projects, and assist in tasks related to community engagement. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in developing community resiliency, experience executing research and have an interest in the Federation’s work and mission. The ideal candidate will have basic knowledge of GIS and Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Research Assistantship is set to begin in May 2023 and run for approximately twelve (12) months with the possibility of extension.


Additional Job Responsibilities:

  • Assist in the collection and analysis of data related to community resilience through direct community outreach and surveying.
  • Draft community profiles that highlight the key strengths and weaknesses of each community’s resiliency in the wake of natural disasters, economic stresses, and other risks.
  • Produce community inventories identifying existing resources, infrastructure, and services. 
  • Prospect potential funding sources for community projects and initiatives.
  • Support community engagement through organizing community meetings and workshops and through additional events as requested.
  • Develop visualizations of data to communicate findings to community stakeholders.
  • Maintain accurate records of all data collected and analyzed.
  • Collaborate with other members of the program team to ensure timely completion of project deliverables.
  • Execute other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills and Qualifications:

  • Be currently enrolled or a recent graduate of a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning or Public Policy.
  • Possess strong analytical and research skills.
  • Detail-oriented organizational and project management skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, bilingual in English and Spanish is an asset.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Familiarity with tools such as GIS, Microsoft Office, and able to use the internet for research and fact-finding.
  • Experience working with government reporting is highly preferred but not required.
  • Knowledge of community resiliency planning, disaster risk reduction, and emergency management principles and practices.
  • Ability to build relationships with community members and stakeholders.
  • Experience with data collection, analysis, and reporting is a plus.


COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements:

HF will adhere to all local, state, and federal COVID vaccine requirements. HF requires vaccination against 19 for all employees. Reasonable Accommodations based on a qualifying disability, medical necessity or sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable law will be considered upon request.

 

Compensation and Benefits

 

This is a part-time position with some flexibility in the work schedule. Some evening and weekend work may be required. The Research Intern will report to the project manager and work closely with other project team members. The position may require some travel within the local community. The position pays $15 per hour with the expectation of commitment to the project of 72 hours per month for twelve (12) months with the possibility for an extension.


To apply

Please submit a resumé and cover letter detailing your interest and qualifications with “Research Intern, WCRP” in the subject line. No telephone calls and only selected candidates will be contacted.

This is a part-time position with flexibility in the work schedule. Some evening and weekend work may be required. The position may require some travel within the local community.

Hispanic Federation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation and/or other protected categories.

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