About this role
About the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy seeks to improve quality of life through the effective use, taxation, and stewardship of land. A nonprofit, private operating foundation whose origins date to 1946, the Lincoln Institute researches and recommends creative, nonpartisan approaches to land as a solution to economic, social, and environmental challenges. Through education, training, publications, and events, we integrate theory and practice to inform public policy decisions worldwide. We organize our work around three impact areas: land and water; land and fiscal systems; and land and communities. We envision a world where cities and regions prosper and benefit from coordinated land use planning and public finance; where communities thrive from efficient and equitable allocation of limited land resources; and where stewardship of land and water resources ensures a livable future. We work globally, with locations in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Washington, DC; Phoenix, Arizona; and Beijing, China.
Land and Fiscal Systems Team Overview:
Fiscal Systems support the revenue that allows local governments to provide high-quality public services such as transportation, education, public safety, affordable housing, and climate resilience measures. We provide public officials with the tools and training to improve community welfare and public revenue, including modern methods of valuation, the study of land market dynamics, and case histories of successful public policies. We also publish extensive databases that allow comparison of alternate approaches to land-based taxation, covering state-by-state property tax features and local finance measures across many categories of revenue. Our team has developed an international series on land-based taxes that includes studies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean; helped the city of Detroit with plans to improve its property tax system with the goal of improving equity; and offered specialized convenings for public officials to examine the interactions between revenue practices, land markets, and land policies.
Position Overview:
The Lincoln Institute seeks a postdoctoral research scholar to conduct research and participate in program development related to the design and administration of land-based fiscal systems. You will work on projects related to municipal fiscal health, including valuation methods, tax incentive design, and the data infrastructure aiding fiscal analysis. You will combine original research with the development of data products and practitioner-facing guidance. You will be best suited for this role as a policy scholar who seeks to reach practitioners and public officials, while contributing to scholarly knowledge on municipal fiscal systems.
What You Will Do
- Conduct empirical research on property tax administration, valuation, and design.
- Develop and document public data products, including extensions to existing Lincoln databases.
- Produce practitioner-relevant guidance in collaboration with assessment and policy experts.
- Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and open-access formats.
- Represent the organization at high-level professional and academic engagements.
- Contribute to proposal development for new initiatives and collaboration with state and local government partners.
- Contribute to organizational strategy through cross-functional collaboration.
- Identify opportunities for Lincolns future research agenda and participate in program development and strategic planning activities for the Fiscal Systems impact area.
Qualifications
What You Will Need
- PhD in economics, public policy, urban planning, or related fields, completed within 1-2 years of hire.
- Approximately 10 years of sustained development of expertise in urban fiscal sustainability.
- Demonstrated ability to produce research on property taxation, state and local public finance, or urban economics, with strong experience in applied econometrics and analysis of administrative microdata.
- Demonstrated ability to write for both academic and practitioner audiences.
- Experience working in local fiscal policy design and assessment administration, preferred.
- Effective communication and leadership skills.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion and judgment.
- Proficiency in data analysis software, such as R, Python, or Stata, and in database development.
Compensation Overview:
The hourly/salary market range for this role is $116,000 (minimum) - $139,200 (40%), depending on the level of education and years of experience.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume directly on the Lincoln Institutes website. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Our Benefits
Include but are not limited to (a) 3x employer contribution towards retirement matching your employee contribution up to 15%, (b) health insurance, (c) dental insurance, (d) vision insurance, (e) 100% reimbursement of the health care deductible through a health reimbursement account, (f) short-term disability coverage, (g) long term disability coverage, (h) paid parental leave, (i) voluntary insurances such as accident insurance, (j) health care flexible spending, (k) dependent care flexible spending, (l) paid time off for holidays, vacation, personal, sick, bereavement, and jury duty, (m) office closure between December 24 – Jan 1 each calendar year, (n) flexible schedule and option for a compressed 4 day workweek, (o) tuition and staff development reimbursement, (p) pet insurance, and (q) Employee Assistance Program.
Our Values
Cooperation and Teamwork, Forthright Feedback, Initiative, Acceptance of Responsibility, Multicultural Sensitivity.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is dedicated to creating an inclusive work environment by hiring, training, promoting, and carrying out personnel procedures with respect to compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, or terminations, on the basis of individual merit, experience, and ability without regard to race (including traits historically associated with race such as hair texture, length of hair, protective hairstyles or cultural or religious headdresses), color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), ancestry, citizenship status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, military service, serious medical condition, expunged juvenile record, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a victim, credit information, homelessness status, reproductive health decision making, or any other characteristic protected by law or otherwise.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information.
Non-Smoking Organization
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy is a Non-Smoking organization. Smoking and the use of tobacco products are prohibited at all times and on all property owned, leased, or under the control of Lincoln Institute of Land Policy at all times, including, but not limited to indoor and outdoor grounds, walkways and sidewalks, parking lots, company vehicles, and private vehicles parked on Lincoln Institute of Land Policy property.
MA Polygraph Statement
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.