Casual Nonexempt

The Minnesota Design Center (MDC) seeks an individual to serve as a part-time casual researcher (14 hours or less per week) to assist with design, research and project management support for several multi-year community-based research projects.

This position will require work on one or both of the following projects:

Design Assist

Design Assist project, funded by the Bush Foundation. This project involves working with the MDC staff and research assistants in service to community based organizations, especially those in under-served areas of the Twin Cities and across Minnesota, in need of urban design assistance.

The position requires a person able to work independently, keeping the Principal Investigator (PI) and senior research fellows informed of progress, and making decisions as required in a timely way for the good of the project. The position involves supporting the students working on projects and aiding in design work as assigned by the MDC's studio head. This work can vary considerably from day to day and can be very complex, so the person in this position needs to be able to respond to diverse needs and switch from one task to another quickly. This position may require some local travel throughout the state of Minnesota and overtime/after hours/weekend work for community engagement events, site analysis, and community meetings. A valid driver's license is required for this role.

Duration: Casual 14 hours per week or less

Responsibilities:

Design and research support

• Work with the Design Assist and/or Empowering Small Minnesota Communities leadership to share information, address challenges, and ensure the progress of the various projects.
• Participate in regular check-in team meetings, various cohort meetings, and problem-solving sessions with team leaders and communities.
• Collaborate closely with the senior research fellow on community design work and on the supervision of the student research assistants
• Help create and deliver presentations online and in person, providing updates on the plans and progress of the Design Assist and/or Empowering Small Minnesota Communities project.
• Contribute to the collection and analysis of data to evaluate the progress of the work and to assess its impact in preparation of yearly reports to the Bush Foundation, collaborative partners, and funders.
• Assist in the preparation of visualizations (maps, diagrams, collages, renderings), reports, factsheets, research summaries, and white papers that synthesize research findings for various stakeholders.

Program management support

• Assist in tracking the outcomes of the work in terms of various metrics of success.
• Share information to facilitate the work and broaden its impact.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, architecture, urban design, planning, or geography.
• One year of relevant work experience in any related field.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems and ESRI's ArcGIS products: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Planner, ArcGIS Storymap, ArcGIS Survey 123, and etc.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud: Indesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• Experience in 3-D modeling and Rendering software: Sketchup, Rhinoceros, V-Ray, and Enscape.
• Ability to conduct research into the needs of communities and relevant solutions to those needs
• Ability to research and design projects under the supervision of MDC staff
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate or professional degree in a relevant field (BArch, MArch, BLA, MLA, MURP or MCP, M-GIS)
• Experience working in multiple scales and systems: regional, local, and neighborhood.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems and ESRI's ArcGIS products.
  

Pay Range: $25.15 - $28/hr; depending on education/qualifications/experience.

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position. To be fully considered for the role please submiot the following:

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

Finalists for the position will be asked to present a portfolio of their work and to discuss the process they went through and their role on some of the project work they were involved in.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.