The Global China Initiative (GCI) at the Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center seeks a skilled Data Analyst with a strong background in China's involvement in international development to join the Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) research group.
The Global China Initiative at the GDP Center advances policy-oriented research on China's overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions in order to enable financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability.
GCI manages a suite of five interactive public databases that collectively track billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investments to various sectors, including energy and other infrastructure development. Databases include China's Overseas Development Finance (CODF) Database, the Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA) Database, the Chinese Loans to Latin America and the Caribbean (CLLAC) Database, the Chinese Global Energy Finance (CGEF) Database, and China's Global Power (CGP) Database.
Skills
As a Data Analyst on the GDP Centers D.A.T.A team, you will support research on China's overseas development finance and help manage a suite of databases to aid researchers, policymakers and journalists better understand Chinese financing activities abroad. This role covers China's international development relations globally, without a specific regional focus.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Support the team lead in data collection, quality review and additional research for analysis and reporting.
Co-author quantitative and qualitative policy briefs, economic bulletins and other reports for various audiences.
Help manage key GDP Center datasets, exploring ways to enhance data collection processes and leveraging technology to automate and optimize database administration.
Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree required in international development or a related field. Master's degree preferred.
A strong understanding of international development and development finance is required, specifically on China's role in global financial institutions and including overseas lending, foreign direct investment, and the Belt and Road initiative.
Knowledge of data collection and cleaning process. Proficient in conducting Boolean searches on Google to identify, clean and review key data and promote consistency across GCI-managed databases.
Well-versed in data analysis and tools with demonstrated proficiency with Excel/Google Sheets for data manipulation and statistical methods. Experience with Python/R and advanced programming knowledge is desirable.
Be able to collaborate with research teams on policy-oriented writing projects.
Languages: Proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and/or other foreign languages such as Indonesian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Farsi and Burmese is preferred but not required.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
