The Development Innovation Lab is running a policy hiring drive especially targeting policy associates and managers. The summary below shares an informal description of these roles. Candidates will be evaluated as a common pool for the policy manager, policy communications manager, and policy associate positions. Selected candidates will be directed to apply to the appropriate UChicago position.
The policy associate or manager is a key position on our growing team. This person will help us prepare material for policymakers to disseminate findings from our research and policy work and identify new opportunities to scale promising innovations. This person will work closely with research teams on their portfolio(s) and with Michael Kremer’s Office of the Faculty Director to expand our reach and advance innovations with the potential to improve the lives of millions in low- and middle-income countries.
The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial manager with a strong understanding of economics and public policy in low- and middle-income countries and an ability to effectively communicate across digital platforms.
Illustrative Responsibilities
The Policy Associates / Managers will support or lead a policy portfolio at DIL. In 2026, Policy Associates / Managers will support opportunities to scale high-impact innovations in digital agriculture, water (in-line chlorination), and a generalist portfolio with a heavy focus on AI for development. We are also interested in candidates who are keen to support the Office of the Faculty Director, which prepares talking points and briefs for Michael Kremer.
Illustrative responsibilities include the following, but these will vary based on the position:
- Cultivating Opportunities to Embed Innovation and Scale Evidence-Based Policy
- Conduct desk research on key partners and opportunities and suggest plans of how to take advantage of opportunities
- Engage with multilateral development banks: build relationships with MDB counterparts, write/manage MOUs, identify opportunities in upcoming loans/grants, provide or facilitate TA
- Manage the budgets for policy projects
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities for policy opportunities
- Disseminating Results
- In coordination with research and communications staff, develop policy materials: policy briefs, reports, press releases, and social media content
- Contribute to external policy products, such as donor briefings, government memos, or emails to key partners
- Supporting Faculty Director Michael Kremer
- Lead/contribute to Michael Kremer’s presentations, briefs, and talking points, especially related to the policy projects
- Proactively identify strategic speaking/outreach opportunities for Michael Kremer and senior DIL leadership
- Support with coordination for Michael Kremer’s field-based travel (as assigned)
What you will gain from this role
The policy associate/manager roles offer exceptional candidates the opportunity to have a big impact on lives and to build their international development bona fides in an innovative organization led by Nobel Prize winning economist and innovator Michael Kremer. They may:
- Gain exposure to a range of policy stakeholders, including high-level relationships and opportunities
- Learn about evidence and policy by working directly with professor Michael Kremer
- Develop expertise in a sector and in evidence and rigorous policy analysis
- Build skills in program management, budget management, writing, stakeholder engagement, MDB operations, grantwriting, and relationship management
- Spend substantial time in a DIL field office(s). For example, we are keen on candidates who would be eager to work with governments to scale policy innovations and thus would be willing to spend months of time working on the ground to make that happen.
- Build connections for onward career moves, including within DIL and in adjacent policy/implementer/donor space
- Participate in regular research and policy seminars discussing ideas about how to identify and improve innovations to improve the lives of the poor
- Be part of a hard-working, dedicated team who cares deeply about improving the lives of people in low and middle income countries.
Characteristics of Ideal Candidates:
Our ideal candidates has substantive coursework and stellar grades in economics, familiarity with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and empirical evidence, and excellent written and oral communication skills. They have a demonstrated ability to be agentic, entrepreneurial, and proactive in moving things forward and have strong project management skills. They have experience working in developing countries and/or with MDBs.
The ideal candidate has expertise in digital agriculture, safe water, AI for development, or DIL’s other areas of focus (education, financial innovations, road safety). However, sector expertise is less critical than being a strong generalist with a strong grounding in the tools of economics. This person is deeply motivated to improve the lives of people in low- and middle-income countries and works well independently while also excelling as a team player.
Note on qualifications & experience:
- Policy associates will typically have 2-4 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree
- Policy managers will typically have 4-8 years of experience and a Master’s degree
- Candidates will be hired as associates or managers, determined by experience
Location: These are hybrid positions based in Washington, D.C. or Chicago, Illinois, with at least an expected three days in-person per week.
Start date: as soon as possible after receiving an offer; preferably by mid June, 2026
Hiring process
- Candidates will be evaluated as a common pool for the policy manager and associate positions. Selected candidates will be directed to apply to the appropriate UChicago position.
- Top candidates will be asked to complete a 90-minute work task. The use of AI is prohibited for this task, and you will be asked to attest that you did not use AI. Using AI will immediately eliminate you from the hiring process.
- Top-scoring candidates will be invited to an interview, and DIL may conduct multiple rounds of interviews before making an offer.
To Apply to the Common Policy Pool
Please apply through this link. You will be asked to provide:
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter (1-page) outlining your interest in and qualifications for this role
- Transcript from your Bachelor’s studies, and Master’s degree (if applicable)
- The earliest date you could begin working
- A letter of recommendation from either of the following. Note: you will be asked to provide this reference’s name and email address in the application. They will receive a request to submit their letter of recommendation directly to us.
- (Preferred for policy managers & associates)) A professor, ideally an economics professor, describing the strength of your quantitative preparation and written communication skills, as well as any unique characteristics that set you apart from your academic peers
OR - (Preferred for policy communications managers) A professional reference, describing your professional strengths, performance, and areas for improvement as they relate to this position.
- (Preferred for policy managers & associates)) A professor, ideally an economics professor, describing the strength of your quantitative preparation and written communication skills, as well as any unique characteristics that set you apart from your academic peers
- The names of two other professional references, including contact information, professional affiliation, and relationship to you.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply early! Candidates are especially encouraged to apply by March 15, as we will review the first batch of applicants then.