Community Engagement Data Management & Analysis Fellowship
About Community Builders: Community Builders is a Colorado nonprofit that partners with local leaders and government agencies in rural west communities to create more livable, prosperous and sustainable places. CB is recognized as a leader in developing and implementing processes and projects that nurture a greater sense of belonging while also addressing the structural challenges rural communities face: growth, housing, economic transition and development, equity, and more. A key element of CB’s approach is robust community engagement that meets people where they are: a coffee shop, community hub, or on the street. The CB team supports local leaders and community members to play meaningful roles in engaging with the challenges their communities face and in co-creating the values, vision, and strategies that will guide future planning. Learn more about some of CB’s most dynamic community engagement projects in this 5 minute video or NYT article.
Position Overview: The remote Community Engagement Data Management & Analysis Fellowship is an exciting 9-month opportunity for emerging professionals who are passionate about the role of deep and authentic community engagement in planning and governance. The Fellow will learn about creative and depthful approaches to community engagement and qualitative data analysis while supporting CB in documenting, coding, and analyzing qualitative data from community engagement projects in two different rural Colorado communities that are scheduled to occur between fall of 2024 and spring of 2025. These engagement activities capture data in a wide variety of formats, from surveys and stories to maps and handwritten letters, and everything in between. The Fellow will develop and manage data tools, including a database and coding framework, and utilize various methods of analysis to support the CB team in drawing out core themes and key insights from the data.
The CB team is excited to work with the right candidate to co-create a tailored position and learning process that will best meet the applicant's educational objectives., including shaping the project into a capstone project or opportunity to receive college credit (dependent on the requirements of the applicant’s academic institution), and/or integrating use of AI-based data analysis tools. Depending on the applicant’s interests and location, there may be opportunities to travel with the CB team to support on-the-ground community engagement activities. The ideal start date for this position is August/September 2024, with the bulk of the work occurring between September-November 2024 and January-March 2025. CB anticipates an average workload of 8-16 hours per week.
Responsibilities: The Fellow will work closely with the CB team to:
- Design data collection methods.
- Develop, test, and manage tools, systems, and processes for data management & analysis:
- Develop a database for easy retrieval and analysis of data;
- Develop a coding framework for qualitative data analysis; and
- Utilize a spreadsheet tool or qualitative analysis software program to analyze data.
- Enter, sort, code, and manage data received throughout the engagement projects.
- Support analysis of the data and identify key themes, patterns, and insights.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of CB’s data systems and identify areas and strategies for improving data management and analysis in future engagement projects.
- Prepare reports and visualizations to present data insights.
- Document the data analysis process and maintain accurate records of all activities.
- Build organizational capacity for qualitative data analysis, including developing training materials and resources for use within the organization.
- Optional: Assess how well CB’s existing processes for analyzing community engagement data perform in comparison to AI-based qualitative analysis tools, and make recommendations for CB to effectively integrate these tools while maintaining depth and rigor in data analysis.
Skills and Qualifications:
- Applicant must live within Colorado.
- Passion for community engagement and telling the story behind the data.
- Experience with qualitative data analysis and management.
- Strong attention to detail; strong organizational and project management skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a graduate program in social sciences, community development, urban planning, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Expected Outcomes:
- Comprehensive database of data collected from community engagement activities.
- Detailed reports and visualizations summarizing key insights and themes.
- Enhanced understanding of community values and priorities to guide future planning.
- Improved capacity of the project team in qualitative data management and analysis.
- Optional: Define and complete an academic research project related to community engagement data collection and analysis.
Compensation:
- The Fellow will receive an hourly rate of $22-25 per hour, with an estimated workload of 8-16 hours per week
- Access to relevant data analysis tools as needed (TBD)
- Potential to travel with the CB team to participate in hands-on community engagement to locations in Colorado within a reasonable commute from the Fellow’s place of residence; to be determined on a case-by-case basis. CB would reimburse approved travel expenses.
- The Fellow is expected to provide their own computer, phone, and internet access.
Application Process: Application deadline is August 23rd. Please submit the following materials via Bamboo HR:
- Resume
- Cover letter highlighting 1) Your interest and experience in community engagement and/or data management/analysis, and 2) How you would ideally like to structure this position to meet your academic and professional objectives, including your desired start and end dates..
- Any examples you can share of your previous data management or analysis projects.
- 3 professional or academic references.