DATA ANALYST, Global Development Policy Center

The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center’s Global China Initiative (GCI) is seeking a Data Analyst with familiarity of or a background in China’s role in international development to lead the Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.) group. We are looking for someone with demonstrated team management experience, data analysis skills, policy research background on China’s overseas economic activities, and strong collaboration and communication skills.

The Global China Initiative (GCI) at the GDP Center produces policy-oriented research on China's overseas investments and engagement with international institutions, focusing on financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability.

GCI maintains four public databases tracking hundreds of billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investment across energy and infrastructure development: China's Overseas Development Finance (CODF), Chinese Loans to Africa (CLA), Chinese Global Energy Finance (CGEF), and China's Global Power (CGP). The databases are open-access resources designed to bring transparency to China's overseas development finance, enabling independent research, informed policymaking, and public accountability.

Role and Responsibilities:

Team Management-

•  Supervise a team of data analysts/research assistants to ensure consistent application of data collection methodologies, processes, standards, and timelines across all projects.
• Oversee quality assurance for all databases and data products, conducting regular reviews to maintain rigorous data standards and accuracy.
• Develop, implement, and maintain tools, workflows, and best practices for data management, including metadata standards, version control, and documentation.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, contractors, and partner organizations for the development and maintenance of data collection tools and public-facing data interactives.
• Administer access to internally produced and licensed data products, ensuring appropriate permissions, security, and compliance with licensing terms.
• Establish, update, and enforce data governance policies covering public and internal data products (e.g., privacy, licensing, retention, and provenance).
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and professional development for research assistants and data analysts.
• Design and maintain a training program to ensure team capacity and methodological consistency.

Policy Research-

• Design and lead empirical analyses of Chinese overseas lending and development finance, foreign direct investment, and energy finance at global and regional levels.
• Produce high-quality written outputs—policy briefs, reports, and op-eds—that are evidence-based, clearly written, and targeted to diverse audiences (policymakers, researchers, media).
• Direct and mentor research teams through the full lifecycle of writing projects, ensuring methodological rigor, clarity of argument, and timely delivery.
• Generate research questions and policy-relevant project ideas focused on China’s overseas economic activity.

Other-

• Coordinate with communications teams to promote research findings to maximize impact.
• Represent the team at conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings; present findings and cultivate partnerships.
• Monitor advances in data science, geolocation techniques, and relevant datasets to continuously improve the team’s methods and tools.