The Development Innovation Lab is running a policy hiring drive especially targeting 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 and associate positions. Selected candidates will be directed to apply to the appropriate UChicago position.
The policy and communications manager will raise DIL’s digital profile by increasing our digital presence and supporting broader strategic communications objectives. This person will coordinate with research and policy staff to turn complex economics and policy research into compelling digital content. This person will be responsible for sourcing and coordinating content for DIL’s website, press releases, and other digital content, and will drive DIL’s digital presence by using performance data and analytics to maximize reach and impact. This role requires someone who can manage multiple communication channels, coordinate across teams, and create professional policy materials.
Illustrative responsibilities
- Help design and achieve DIL’s communications approach
- Work with DIL senior leadership to create a communications plan and set communications goals
- Learn from other organizations about their communications work
- Build and refine systems for content production, review, and clearance
- Write and maintain a style guide, a social media guide, guidelines for photography, etc.
- Amplify DIL’s online presence
- Source and refine digital communications content (social media, policy briefs, blogs, website) to engage policymakers, partners, donors, and other stakeholders
- Design and execute social media engagement approach
- Manage and continuously improve website, ensuring content is current, well-organized, accessible, and optimized for user experience
- Track and report on communications metrics to quantify reach and engagement and inform recommendations for improvement
- Boost DIL participation in external events by coordinating, creating and disseminating related content, including through press releases and social media
- Maintain consistency across materials and platforms
- Support field teams to engage local photographers and ensure regular production of visual content
- Serve as technical manager of communications contracts: web designer, graphic designers, field-based photographers, others as needed
- Support DIL team members to improve communications
- Support press releases for DIL team members and coordinate with media, both in the US and in the countries where we work
- Help with pitch decks, donor communications, reports, etc.
- Help with design of documents and other media
What you will gain from this role
The communications manager role offers the opportunity to have a big impact on lives globally and to build their international development bona fides in an innovative organization led by Nobel Prize winning economist and innovator Michael Kremer. The communications manager may:
- Build expertise communicating economic evidence and rigorous policy analysis and managing digital engagement for reach and impact
- Travel to DIL field offices and high-profile global events (such as COP, WB Annual Meetings, etc)
- Develop a robust multi-platform portfolio of digital communications content
- Develop communications skills, e.g. in communications strategy, digital engagement, etc
- Gain exposure to a wide range of policy stakeholders, including high-level relationships
- Build connections for onward career moves, within DIL or in adjacent policy/ implementer/ donor space
Characteristics of Ideal Candidates
The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial manager with a strong understanding of economics and public policy in low- and middle-income countries and a demonstrated understanding of how to communicate effectively across digital platforms.They should have at least a BA (MA preferred) in communications, journalism, economics, or public policy or a similar field. They have demonstrated success designing multi-platform engagement strategies, and are familiar with tools and practices to analyze performance metrics and drive reach and engagement. They are adept with graphic design tools and content management systems and can manage basic document formatting and website updates. The ideal candidate can manage multiple communication channels, coordinate effectively across teams spread around the world, and create professional policy materials. They have strong organizational skills and high attention to detail, and a proven track record of achieving goals in a timely manner.
Locations:
- DIL country of operation: Chicago; Washington D.C.; London; Delhi; Nairobi; Bogota.
- These are hybrid positions with at least expected three days in-person per week.
- May require occasional travel
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 with 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.
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)
- Earliest start date
- Two work samples (such as a policy report or blog post you authored or a social media profile you manage). You will be able to upload or link to these in the application
- If you do not have access to work samples (for example, if they were government accounts and are no longer accessible), please describe each product in 1-3 sentences, noting the type of product (blog post, policy paper, etc), the target audience, the type of source content (e.g. an impact evaluation) and any tools you used to create or tailor it (e.g. Canva, WordPress, photos from X location, etc)
- Professional references:
- One reference letter (2-3 pages) from a professional reference, describing the candidate’s professional strengths, performance, and areas for improvement as they relate to this position.
- 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.
- The names of two other professional references, including contact information, professional affiliation, and relationship to you
- One reference letter (2-3 pages) from a professional reference, describing the candidate’s professional strengths, performance, and areas for improvement as they relate to this position.
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.