Data Analyst, Principal

The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) serves as the regional planning and intergovernmental coordination agency for metro Atlanta, working to foster thriving communities across the region through collaborative, data-informed planning and investment. ARC coordinates regional growth and development, transportation, and natural resource planning to prepare for the future of the metro Atlanta region.

Central to this mission is the calibration and application of socioeconomic models that generate accurate, reliable, and defensible regional forecasts, which serve as the foundation for sound long-range planning decisions across the region.

The ARC Office of Research and Innovation is seeking a Principal Data Analyst to manage and enhance our regional forecasting program.

In this role, the Principal Data Analyst will lead the application and enhancement of ARC’s REMI (Regional Economic Models, Inc.) modeling platform, develop regional socioeconomic forecasts, conduct economic impact analyses, and produce data, insights, and strategic intelligence that support critical regional initiatives, policy decisions, and planning priorities.

This position serves as a key technical leader in ensuring the rigor, accuracy, and policy relevance of the forecasts and analyses that inform regional planning and decision-making. The Principal Data Analyst will also collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to translate complex economic and demographic trends into actionable insights that support ARC’s long-range vision and strategic objectives.

• Calibrate, enhance, and run the REMI economic modeling application to develop regional socioeconomic forecasts to support agency planning priorities.
• Compile, process, and integrate data from federal, state, local, and proprietary sources (e.g., Census, BEA, BLS, Woods & Poole) to support modeling and forecasting.
• Document modeling assumptions, methodologies, and data sources to ensure transparency, reproducibility, and defensibility of forecasts.
• Develop economic impact analysis to evaluate the effects of policies, investments, and major initiatives on the region.
• Translate complex analytical results into clear reports, visualizations, briefings, and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences, including staff, member governments, and stakeholders.
• Support ARC spatial economic modeling projects.
• Collaborate with planning, transportation, natural resources, and other departments to align forecasts and analyses with agency planning needs and priorities.
• Respond to data and analysis requests from internal teams, local governments, partner agencies, and the public.
• Stay current with advances in economic modeling, forecasting methods, and data-analysis tools, and recommend improvements to ARC’s modeling and forecasting capabilities.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Statistics, Data Science, Urban/Regional Planning, Public Policy, or a closely related field.
• Experience: A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in economic modeling, forecasting, planning, data analysis, or applied quantitative research.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above, unless otherwise subject to any other requirements set forth in law or regulation.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree or doctoral degree is preferred.
• Hands-on experience with REMI is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with statistical and data analysis tools is preferred.
• Experience in a regional planning, government, or public-sector research setting.
• Familiarity with regional transportation, landuse, or demographic forecasting models.
• Strong understanding of regional and urban economics, demography, and applied econometrics.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Pro for spatial data analysis and mapping.
• Demonstrated experience developing, running, and interpreting econometric or economic impact models.
• Experience working with major socioeconomic and economic data sources (e.g., U.S. Census, ACS, BEA, BLS).
• Strong data visualization and reporting skills.
• Commitment to accuracy, transparency, and reproducibility in analytical work.
• High attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and adaptability. Comfortable working independently and as part of cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, track progress, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.