Entry Level Research Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

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, Washington D.C. and the Bay Area. 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.
ABOUT YOU | You have a passion for urban development and policy, strong quantitative and qualitative skills, and a deep curiosity about the challenges and opportunities facing cities today. You are excited to dive into projects that help our clients solve the difficult challenges cities face today, and to build upon your skillset and interest in real estate and economic development.
THE ROLE | HR&A is seeking to hire a Research Analyst, Real Estate, to work out of our Los Angeles office. The Research Analyst role is an entry-level position for professionals with 0-2 years of professional experience.
Day-to-day tasks range from project to project, and often include:

• Real estate market analysis

• Quantitative analysis in Excel, including real estate-focused financial analysis

• Statistical analysis and econometrics

• Case study research

• Demographic and economic data analysis

• Public policy analysis

• Drafting proposals for new projects

• Producing marketing materials

• Crafting client deliverables in the form of written reports, memos, and PowerPoint presentations

Analytic staff form the foundation of our team-oriented and collaborative structure and help to drive our data-focused approach to city building.This position offers significant opportunity for growth. HR&A consultants are often generalists but have the opportunity to specialize over time. Many of HR&A's senior staff started as Research Analysts.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | Successful candidates will bring strong quantitative and qualitative skills as well as a demonstrated capacity for critical thinking and creativity as well as other capabilities aligned with the role and responsibilities described above, including:

• 0-2 years of full-time experience in urban planning or development, real estate finance, economics, statistics, public administration, or a similar field

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing written reports, presentations as well as agendas and meeting notes
• 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 learn quickly

• Open to giving and receiving feedback

• Ability to successfully multi-task and manage multiple assignments at once

• Superb attention to detail, delivering accurate and error-free work

• Capacity for independent thinking

• Self-starter

• Bachelor's degree in a related field such as Real Estate, Finance, Urban Planning, Economics, Statistics, or Public Policy preferred

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 $71,800 - $79,825, 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 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].