Policy Research Assistant at Center for an Urban Future (Wilson Ctr. Funded)

Organization Name: Center for an Urban Future

Internship Role/Title: Policy Research Assistant

Organization Website: https://nycfuture.org/

Address: 80 8th Avenue, Suite 704, New York, NY 10011

Duration of Internship: 280 hour commitment (Full-time, 35 hrs/week for 8 weeks)

Eligibility: This Wilson Center funded opportunity is open to all registered Pace students (undergraduate, graduate and international students) that are graduating in Dec. 2026 OR later.

Modality: Hybrid

About the Organization: (Please limit your response to 200 words or less) 

The Center for an Urban Future (CUF) is leading New York City-based public policy research think tank that is focused on creating a stronger and more equitable economy in NYC, and expanding economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. Our research methods combine journalism with traditional policy analysis to publish accessible, fact-based reports with data-driven solutions to increase the city’s prosperity, advance the number of well-paying jobs, and provide low-income New Yorkers with a pathway to the middle class. We elevate critical and often overlooked issues onto the radar of public officials and spur policy changes to expand economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. 

Over the years, CUF has put forth concrete ideas for city and state policymakers that have influenced policies on helping New York’s college students achieve college and career success, supporting immigrant entrepreneurs, preparing for the green economy, bolstering public libraries, expanding apprenticeships and tech training programs, scaling up small businesses, strengthening human services organizations, sustaining artists, closing racial disparities in the city’s economy, improving services for older New Yorkers, and more.

For more, check out the Crain's New York Business profile about the organization, "The think tank quietly influencing New York’s top officials:" https://nycfuture.org/impact/the-think-tank-quietly-influencing-nys-top-officials

Position Overview: (Provide an overview of the role and its purpose in 4–6 sentences) 

The Center seeks Policy Research Interns with experience or degrees in public policy, journalism, urban planning, economics, government, social science, or related fields, to contribute directly to and learn about the research and editorial processes of a think tank and how research can help guide, inspire, and spark policy change. 

We are looking for a strong writer with sharp policy instincts who can communicate clearly, concisely, and compellingly; a data-savvy analyst comfortable pulling, organizing, and interpreting complex datasets to extract key findings and identify trends; a confident communicator able to conduct and lead interviews with diverse stakeholders and synthesize insights into clear themes; and someone who is curious, organized, and detail-oriented.

Key Responsibilities: (Use bullet points to clearly outline the major tasks and responsibilities 5–7 items preferred). 

Responsibilities include: 
* Conducting background research to guide new and existing projects.
* Writing policy memos and drafting report text.
* Conducting phone/video interviews, and submitting memos based on findings and key themes.
* Pulling, cleaning, and analyzing data from sources such as the US Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and American Community Survey.
* Contributing to the report production process by proof-reading, fact-checking, and editing. 
* Developing source lists for research outreach.
* Keeping up to date on local city and state policy, including attending hearings and presentations.

Preferred Skills: (please list general hard/soft/technical skills here, a bullet list will suffice)

* Strong writing skills. Experience writing policy memos, on research that puts forward policy solutions, or journalism. 
* Strong oral communications skills. The ability to conduct and lead interviews with a diverse set of leaders and stakeholders across NYC. 
* Ability to synthesize ideas clearly and concisely.
* High level of competency in Microsoft Office, with advanced proficiency in Excel. 
* PLUS: Experience with public data sources like the US Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics
* Attention to detail. 
* Time management and multi-tasking. This role will require managing several tasks, prioritizing them based on a variety of timelines, and pivoting to different tasks as deadlines are modified.
* Willingness to learn. This role will require learning new skills, approaches, and tactics. Applicants should be open to learning and working on a variety of assignments. 
*Goal-oriented perspective. Applicants must be able to grasp the broader organizational goals and think strategically about how to accomplish them through individual assignments.
*An interest in economic development, journalism, urban planning, workforce development, and higher education issues.

The Ideal Candidate is:

The ideal candidate is a sharp, mission-driven researcher and writer deeply committed to building a stronger, more equitable NYC—particularly in areas such as economic development, workforce training, higher education, arts and culture, support for vulnerable populations, and parks and green spaces.