About the Department
The Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer. DIL brings researchers in different fields together with governments, firms and non-profit organizations to identify, test, refine and scale innovations.
Job Summary
The Policy Associate will help advance the research agenda of the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) by fostering relationships, communicating research findings, and identifying opportunities for collaboration and impact. This role will also play a crucial role in supporting engagement with policymakers, multilateral institutions, bilateral donors, academic partners, and implementing partners to scale innovations related to climate change, food security, and agriculture.
The Policy Associate will work at the intersection of cutting-edge economic research and high-level policy application. The role will be instrumental in expanding DIL’s influence in the global development community and translating innovative research into real-world impact. This is an ideal position for a candidate who is interested in making significant contributions in the field of development economics and policy.
The Policy Associate will work closely with Lead Researchers on the Agriculture team at DIL, and may provide direct support to Faculty Director Michael Kremer. Specific responsibilities include providing policy support in outreach and communications related to the work of the Agriculture team, including writing, public speaking and presentations, project development, multilateral engagement, and human resources.
The ideal candidate possesses strong writing skills, technical knowledge of development economics, policy, and the ability to work efficiently across many projects and teams. This position is well-suited for someone interested in a career at the intersection of research and policy.
This position will be based either in Washington D.C. or Chicago, IL.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Communications (30%)
- Collaborate with the Agriculture team to develop and execute communication strategies
- Oversee or support the preparation of speeches, presentations, and other high-level communications
- Support the team in crafting compelling narratives that showcase DIL’s impact to diverse audiences
- Support Strategic Policy Development (25%):
- Support the development of comprehensive policy strategies aligned with DIL’s research agenda.
- Draft high-impact policy briefs, white papers, and presentations for senior policymakers
- Provide policy guidance to the team
- Research-Policy Integration (20%)
- Support the translation of DIL’s cutting-edge research into policy recommendations
- Identify opportunities for policy-relevant research and advise research teams accordingly
- Contribute to research projects with significant policy implications
- Stakeholder Engagement (15%)
- Support the team in cultivating and maintaining relationships with stakeholders in multilateral organizations, governments, and major donors
- Help prepare DIL team members for high-profile policy events and global conferences. As needed, participate in these events.
- Support strategic discussions with policymakers
- Team management and coordination (10%)
- Coordinate work by research professionals and other staff
- Oversee the team’s workload, ensuring high-quality outputs and adherence to deadlines
- Support the fostering of a collaborative environment that encourages innovation and professional growth
- Perform other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- College or university degree in economics or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Demonstrated experience with academic writing.
Competencies:
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to translate technical ideas into non-technical content.
- Outstanding verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex ideas to diverse audiences
- Excellent time management and organizational skills including the ability to meet external and internal deadlines.
- Strong coordination skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Masters degree in Economics, Public Policy, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated experience in policy roles, preferably in international development
Preferred competencies
- Strong network, and experience, within multilateral institutions, government agencies, and/or the development sector
- Experience influencing policy at national or international levels
- Excellent leadership and team management skills
- Demonstrated expertise in development economics and a strong understanding of empirical research methods
- Ability to assess the quality of economic evidence and cost-effectiveness for economic innovations is strongly preferred
- Knowledge of randomized controlled trials and other empirical methods used in economics is strongly preferred
- Experience related to smallholder agriculture in a low- or middle-income country setting.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- References Contact Information (3)(required)