Where Hurricanes Strike

Industry-leading website BestPlaces.net (3 million users/month) seeks a demographer/geographer/statistician to process, compile and maintain the many datasets that are the lifeblood of our site.  Our BestPlaces team is small but mighty, and makes an outsized impact.  Here�s your opportunity to contribute your skills and see your work help millions.

The ideal candidate will be able to locate, collect, clean, and format demographic, economic & GIS data, perform any data conversions necessary, and merge data together to create complete datasets ready for use on our web site in tables, maps, charts, reports and visualizations. It�s important to have an advanced understanding of MS Excel functions and formulas as well as the ability to convert between common data file types (csv, shapefile, tsv, json, geojson). Experience dealing directly with publicly available datasets such as the American Community Survey, Decennial Census, or other government sources is essential.

If you�re familiar with these acronyms - ACS, PUMS, COLI, CPS, BEA, CBSA, UCR, FHFA, HUD, FIPS, BLS, FMR, RPP,  ZCTA - you sound like you speak our language.  ??

You should also have experience with Python & SQL. Also desirable is a general understanding of HTTP protocols and the ability to use browser development tools to facilitate extracting data from web sources.

Skills, education, & experience:

• Deep experience with demographic data & statistics
• Ability to work with complex and very large datasets
• Strong skills in using Excel & other data analysis tools
• Experience with Python programming (Pandas, Numpy, SciPy, for data analysis)
• Experience extracting data from the web.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools and practices
• Exposure to GIS data (shapefiles, geodatabases, geojson, topojson, etc.), software such as QGIS, ArcMap, and spatial databases like PostGIS
• The ability to derive satisfaction from patiently and incrementally improving and documenting evergreen data resources.
• Demonstrated success in working alone, but collaborating with team members on large complex projects

Compensation is based on experience.  We are a small team, focused and driven, and with your help, it will be bigger and mightier.

For over 30 years, BestPlaces has been the leader in helping people find their ideal place to live in the United States.  It was founded and is still led by Bert Sperling, who the New York Times called �the guy who picks the best places.�

Prior to COVID we maintained offices in Portland, Oregon but this position is currently remote.

Please submit your resume and cover letter along with availability and desired compensation to bertrand@bestplaces.net