Economic Development Planning Jobs in California

ABOUT US | HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is an employee-owned company advising public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic clients on how to increase opportunity and advance quality of life in cities.
We believe in creating vital places, building equitable and resilient communities, and improving people's lives.
From Brooklyn to London, Medellin to Hong Kong, we have guided hundreds of clients in transforming real estate and economic development concepts, and public infrastructure, first into actionable plans and then into job-producing, community-strengthening assets.
Our clients include real estate owners and investors, hospitals and universities, cultural institutions and philanthropies, community development organizations, and governments.
HR&A has offices in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, and Washington D.C. We come from diverse backgrounds, have a breadth of lived experience, and share a passion for cities. We are former city officials, executive directors, planners, lawyers, architects, and economists.
Hear more about the HR&A experience from our staff.
Learn more about careers at HR&A on our website here.
THE PRACTICE| HR&A's Inclusive Cities practice leverages our deep understanding of government, knowledge of local and private economic forces, and analytical rigor to promote social and economic justice.
Our practice area centers racial equity and economic justice in economic development, policy, and planning. We help our clients identify who will benefit from economic development initiatives and show them how to design and execute more equitable projects, neighborhoods, and cities. By engaging communities and grassroots organizations in meaningful, non-extractive ways, we build new trust and durable partnerships. We launch new programs and community-driven projects to increase awareness and participation in our civic discourse, which is essential to shifting traditional economic development paradigms. Our team emboldens visionary public servants with the tools they need to embed equity into their policy and practice. We serve as a bridge between ideas and implementation, truly changing systems from workforce development to criminal legal system reform, so that lives are changed for the better.
THE ROLE | HR&A's Inclusive Cities Practice is seeking a full-time Analyst to be based in an HR&A office in New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Dallas, Raleigh, Atlanta, or Washington D.C Our analytical staff form the foundation of our team-oriented and collaborative structure and help to drive our data-driven approach to city building.
Analystsare early career professionals with 2-4 years of professional experience and draft the substance of our client work products. Depending on the project, Analysts may expect their work to include:

• Substantial public policy research and analysis

• Strategic communications, including developing press releases, memos, talking points, and messaging frameworks for policy initiatives

• Organizational and governance strategy development for local government agencies

• Power mapping and political landscape analysis, identifying key decision-makers, interest groups, and influencers who shape policy and program implementation inside and outside of government.

• Municipal budget analysis and evaluation

• Community and stakeholder engagement; including designing and facilitating engagement events

• Case study research

Analysts also help prepare written reports, presentations in PowerPoint, and Excel models for clients, as well as firm marketing materials and proposals for new projects.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | We are looking for candidates with strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, a passion for urban policy and governance, and a deep curiosity about the challenges and opportunities facing cities today. Ideal Analysts will bring a demonstrated capacity for active project team participation, leadership, critical thinking, creativity, and other capabilities aligned with the roles and responsibilities described above, including:

• 2-4 years of professional experience in public policy research and analysis, economic development, governance, community engagement, or a related field-ideally in a government, nonprofit, or advocacy setting.

• Commitment to advancing equity, with an understanding of how policy, governance, and economic systems impact historically marginalized communities and a desire to develop solutions that promote racial and economic justice.

• Understanding of urban systems and policy frameworks, with experience in areas such as city governance, economic inclusion, workforce development, public services, housing, small business support, or civic engagement.

• Strong research, analysis, and problem-solving skills, including quantitative and qualitative approaches, policy evaluation, and stakeholder engagement.

• Excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to synthesize complex ideas for policymakers, advocates, and community stakeholders.
• Proficiency in common AI tools (i.e., LLMs like ChatGPT) and understanding of best practices for responsible use, citation and incorporation into research and other tasks
• Understanding of limitations of AI tools and demonstrated ability to independently verify data and AI outputs
• Demonstrated interest in using emerging AI tools to accelerate data analysis, deliverable production and other specialized methodologies

• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Urban Planning, Economics, Political Science, or a related field or a Master's degree (MPA, MBA, Urban Planning, etc.) or related field.

HYBRID WORK POLICY | HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. Employees work from the office at least three days a week, which allows individuals the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams.
COMPENSATION | The base salary range for this position is $83,200 - $98,571, plus the opportunity for a discretionary year-end bonus. Where an offer falls inside this pay range is dependent on experience. We offer competitive compensation packages, based on qualifications and experience. We are an employee-owned company, meaning you will have the opportunity to benefit from the firm's growth over time through participation in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Each year, the firm will contribute funds to this long-term wealth-building account and may make contributions to other retirement accounts. We also provide a comprehensive benefits package that goes well beyond coverage of 90-95% of healthcare premiums, including dental and vision coverage.
HOW TO APPLY | HR&A is committed to attracting and retaining a talented, diverse, competitive team of professionals dedicated to solving the challenges of urban life. Women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
To apply, click here. Please submit your cover letter and your resume as a single PDF document. Applications without this requested cover letter will not be reviewed.
As part of our ongoing work to build a hiring system that mitigates bias and is based on candidate merit and performance, we ask that you submit a version of your resume and resume that has your school information removed. Please list your degree, e.g., B.A. Economics; however, remove all references to undergraduate and graduate schools you have attended.
All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, medical condition, veteran status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
For more information, please contact us at[email protected].