Thank you for your interest in employment opportunities at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation.
Established in 2015, the Terner Center is a leading voice in the formulation of practical solutions and policies to meet the challenges of developing homes and communities that are affordable, vibrant, and environmentally sustainable.
Our Values
With a small but dynamic core staff, team members at the Terner Center take on a variety of different roles on many projects in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. We hold our work and each other to high standards through constructive feedback and iterative review. Most of all, we are committed to the success and growth of each member of our team. We encourage staff to share their knowledge, time, and perspectives, and to seek out opportunities for professional and educational development.
A key aim of our work is to guide and elevate the scholarship and leadership of students at UC Berkeley on issues in housing policy, development, and design. We regularly hire UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students from a variety of programs for semester appointments. Please check below for opportunities for students.
OUR CULTURE
- We strive to foster collaboration and team engagement. Impactful research and policy development are rooted in exchange, both within our team and with external partners and organizations.
- We expect our staff to value research that is independent, based in evidence, and rigorous. We look for team members who are committed to producing high-quality and impactful work that advances the Terner Center’s mission.
- We believe our work is stronger when it engages a broad set of stakeholders. We look for team members who are always thinking about new ways to amplify our work and reach new audiences.
- We are family-friendly. With several working parents on our team, we offer flexibility in scheduling and enjoy when kids of all ages visit our office or pop up on video calls.
- We are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where every team member is welcomed, valued, and supported.
- We are an equal opportunity employer and seek applications from people with diverse backgrounds of all kinds. We encourage people who have lived experience with the challenges of housing affordability to apply.
BENEFITS
- Comprehensive medical insurance, including health, dental, and vision coverage through UC Berkeley. Click here to learn more.
- Retirement savings or pension opportunities as well as retirement counseling and education through UC Berkeley. Click here to learn more.
- Paid vacation, sick time, and holiday leave.
- Access to the educational and professional development benefits of a world-class academic institution.
CURRENT OPENINGS
Graduate Student Researcher
The Terner Center is seeking a graduate student researcher (GSR) from UC Berkeley to join our team for Spring 2027 (January 1, 2027 – May 14, 2027) to support our research. GSRs will be expected to work 20 hours/week during the semester. The positions will be hybrid, with GSRs working at least eight hours/week in the Terner Center’s office in downtown Oakland.
We are hiring for the following project:
California Parcel and Land Use Open Data Project: This project will create a new public dataset as the first part of a multi-campus UC land use research project. California currently lacks a free and downloadable statewide parcel map, requiring individual researchers to purchase data and creating significant duplicative work across research and policy groups. This project will assemble this map, make it easily accessible, and augment it with other key data sources to increase our understanding of how land use laws are working throughout California. The right candidate for the role is meticulous and likes getting into the details of data. Experience building pipelines for geospatial datasets in Python, along with great documentation and communication skills, is required. Familiarity with land use and demographic data (zoning maps, census data, transit maps, etc.) and/or making public-facing data tools is preferred.
To apply, please upload the following documents in one PDF:
1) Resume,
2) Cover letter, and
3) Optionally, a link to a work sample in github.
Deadline: Friday November 13, 2026 5:00 p.m. PT