Embedded Analyst, Innovate Alabama

Birmingham, AL
Full Time
Mid Level

ABOUT US |   HR&A Advisors, Inc. (HR&A) is a consulting firm that advises 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.    

THE ROLE | HR&A’s is seeking a full-time Embedded Analyst to be based in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of our ongoing partnership with Innovate Alabama, the state's pioneering public-private initiative fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. This role will support data-driven analysis and economic development strategies that strengthen Alabama's innovation ecosystem. Our analytical staff form the foundation of our team-oriented and collaborative structure, helping drive our evidence-based approach to city building while supporting initiatives that connect entrepreneurs, investors, and organizations committed to fostering business growth across the state.  

Analysts are early-career professionals with 2-4 years of professional experience and draft the substance of our client work products. For our Innovate Alabama client specifically, this Embedded Analyst will complete tasks pertaining to:  

  • Alabama innovation ecosystem research, including research funding activity, patents, and tech transfer 

  • Industry trends and employment analysis for relevant industries in Alabama’s innovation ecosystem 

  • GIS mapping of assets pertaining to Alabama’s innovation ecosystem 

  • Case study research for various dimensions of the Innovate Alabama organization, such as talent retention programs in other states, quasi-public venture capital programs,  

  • Database management support for the Innovate Alabama organization, including periodic review of new types of data to be collected and managed by the organization 

  • Economic and econometric modeling on an ongoing basis 

  • Public policy analysis as pertains to the innovation ecosystem of Alabama 

  • Other forms of data analysis and research 

Analysts also help prepare written reports, presentations in PowerPoint, and Excel models for clients.  

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED | We are looking for candidates with strong quantitative and qualitative skills, a passion for innovation and economic development, and a deep curiosity about the challenges and opportunities facing Alabama 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: 

  • At least 2 years of experience in innovation-centric economic development work in either a public or private organization 

  • Familiarity with economic development initiatives in local and Alabama State government 

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills 

  • Proficiency with PowerPoint, Excel, and Word 

  • Ability to work on multiple assignments at once 

  • Candidates should be highly motivated independent thinkers who are detail-oriented, entrepreneurial, and sufficiently poised for client interaction. 

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

  • Master's degree in real estate development (MRED), Business Administration (MBA), Urban Planning, Economics, or a related field is preferred. 

HYBRID WORK | HR&A fosters a collaborative and flexible work environment through our hybrid work policy. In this role, the Analyst will work from the office at in accordance with Innovate Alabama policy – typically 3 days per week, which allows the freedom to balance their professional and personal lives while maintaining a strong connection to their teams. 

COMPENSATION | The base compensation range for this position is $75,000-$90,000. Where an offer falls within the pay range is dependent on experience. We offer competitive compensation packages based on qualifications and experience.  This position is a full-time contractor role for a maximum of three years that works alongside HR&A’s Innovate Alabama team, where employment is via HR&A’s employment partner, Magnit.  Magnit benefits include health and wellness benefits and paid holidays. 

HOW TO APPLY | HR&A is committed to attracting and retaining a talented, diverse, and competitive team of professionals dedicated to solving the challenges of urban life. Please submit a resume as a single PDF document here. If you have a digital portfolio, include a link within your cover letter.  

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]. 

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
Apply with Indeed
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*