Job Details

Senior Research Fellow, Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions

Position Number: 9842989
Location: Denver, United States
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Economics

Senior Research Fellow, Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions

Job No: 499062
Work Type: Postdoc / Research / Fellow
Location: Denver, CO
Categories: Business Operations / Services, Research

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions (CHRIS) at the University of Denver is the first center of its kind in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West - an interdisciplinary hub for housing research, data, policy evaluation, and education. Bringing together expertise in real estate, land use law, public policy, and social sciences, CHRIS produces rigorous, nonpartisan research spanning the full housing continuum - from deeply affordable to market-rate, rental to homeownership - with a focus on production and preservation, affordability, and resilience.

CHRIS applies innovative research methods, policy tools, and technologies, including in emerging areas like industrialized construction, to expand whats possible for how housing is built, financed, accessed, and preserved. Through policy evaluation, comparative research, and market analytics, CHRIS translates evidence into practical, forward-looking solutions for policymakers, practitioners, and communities, while building regional data infrastructure that strengthens housing decision-making across Colorado and the region. CHRIS also advances the next generation of housing leaders through research training, applied learning opportunities, and executive education for practitioners and policymakers.

Housed in the Office of the Provost, CHRIS provides central leadership, infrastructure, and accountability while drawing on faculty expertise from across the University, including the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management, the Sturm College of Law, the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, and the Graduate School of Social Work. The Center partners closely with governments, nonprofits, philanthropy, and the private sector to evaluate housing policies, analyze market dynamics, and identify evidence-based solutions.

Position Summary

The Senior Research Fellow will serve as a senior applied researcher and strategic thought partner to the Executive Director during CHRIS's startup and growth. The fellow will help shape CHRIS's research agenda, identify emerging policy and market questions, develop partnerships and funding opportunities, and directly lead and execute policy-relevant research on housing production, affordability, and access, and translating findings into practical tools and recommendations for policymakers, industry leaders, and practitioners.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Senior Policy Fellow will lead applied research on sponsored, grant-funded projects; play a central role in developing new research and funding opportunities for CHRIS; and build CHRIS's capacity to produce both long-term rigorous research and timely analysis responsive to urgent market and policy questions.

Initially, the Fellow will support CHRIS's sponsored research, grant development, market analysis, policy evaluation, external engagement, and other emerging priorities. As CHRIS adds staff and its research portfolio develops, the Fellow is expected to provide leadership in housing market analysis, development feasibility and financing, and policy simulation and application.

This is a one-year, fixed-term position with the expectation that this position can be extended based on program needs and funding. This position is suited to a senior researcher with substantial experience applying economic analysis and rigorous quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-method research to housing policy and practice.

Length of position is dependent on gift/grand funding availability.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership and Organizational Development: Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and contribute to the development of CHRIS's research agenda, partnerships, strategy, and organizational development; bring knowledge of Colorado's housing markets, policies, processes, and stakeholder landscape to inform CHRIS's strategy and development.

Applied Housing Economics and Policy Research: Serve as a senior researcher on CHRISs sponsored research portfolio, including federal, state, and philanthropic grants. Lead rigorous, applied, and policy-relevant research on housing supply, affordability, access, and the regulatory, economic, demographic, and financial factors that shape housing markets, using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method approaches appropriate to the research question, intended audience, available data and decision timeline; translate economic, demographic, administrative, financial and market data into practical tools, financing mechanisms, and evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners.

Housing Market Analysis: Lead and support research and analysis examining housing supply and demand, rents and prices, household formation, vacancy rates, construction and permitting activity, financing conditions, and the distributional effects of housing scarcity; support development of recurring reports, dashboards, datasets, and other regional data infrastructure to improve housing market analysis and decision-making across Colorado and the region.

Development Feasibility, Finance, and Policy Simulation: Lead development feasibility, pro-forma, financing, and scenario analysis examining how market conditions, land use regulations, building codes, permitting processes, taxes, fees, subsidies and financing structures affect housing production and affordability; work with developers, lenders, investors, public agencies, and other practitioners to ensure that model assumptions and research findings reflect current development and market conditions.

Grant Development and Fundraising: Play an active role in developing grant proposals and funding pitches; and help cultivate and maintain relationships with funders and research partners to grow CHRISs grant-funded research pipeline.

Collaboration: Partner with the CHRIS Housing Economist, future Research Director, and affiliated faculty and researchers across the University of Denver and partner institutions to design and execute interdisciplinary housing research projects.

Engagement: Represent CHRIS in public forums, industry and academic conferences, policy discussions, and media; author research reports, policy briefs, white papers, and other publications; and translate CHRISs research for policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners.

Secondary Functions

Mentorship: Provide project-specific mentorship and guidance to CHRISs graduate research assistants and junior research staff.

Teaching & Presentations: Opportunities to guest lecture or co-teach in the Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing or other CHRIS-affiliated programs, at extra compensation at DU adjunct rates.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to translate complex economic analysis for policymakers, practitioners, and general audiences.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including experience with economic, demographic, and administrative data.
Strong grounding in rigorous research methods, including quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-method approaches.
Demonstrated experience applying research to inform policy and industry practice, including policy tools, financing mechanisms, or development strategy.
High standard of research integrity, professional judgment, and dependability.
Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple funded projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Track record of building relationships with government agencies, industry leaders, funders, and cross-sector partners.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision while collaborating effectively across an interdisciplinary team
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and standard analytical/statistical software.

Required Qualifications

PhD in economics, public policy, or a related field; or an advanced professional degree (JD, MBA, or related master's degree) combined with substantial senior-level research and policy experience.
10 or more years of progressively responsible experience in applied housing policy research, economics, or related fields, including senior-level roles in government, consulting, or research settings.
Demonstrated track record of rigorous, applied research using quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed method approaches.
Experience translating research and data analysis into practical tools, policy recommendations, or financing mechanisms for policymakers, industry leaders and practitioners.
Experience supporting grant-funded research and/or fundraising for research or policy initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

Deep knowledge of Colorados housing market and policy landscape.
Experience in land use, zoning, property taxation, or housing finance policy.
Working proficiency in econometric, statistical, or qualitative analysis software (e.g., Python, R, Stata, NVivo, EViews) and/or GIS and data visualization tools.
Experience with development feasibility analysis, pro-forma modeling, or capital stack and financing structure design for housing development.
Experience presenting research findings to policymakers and industry groups, and in legislative and regulatory settings.
Experience managing or contributing to public-sector economic forecasting or fiscal analysis.

Working Environment

Standard office environment.
Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 24, 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 14.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $103,500 - $126,500.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate's sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.

To apply, visit https://jobs.du.edu/en-us/job/499062