Senior Policy & Research Manager, Office of the Faculty Director

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct guidance to the Faculty Director, applying expertise in development economics and evidence-based policy to advise on strategic decisions, and prepare for high-level engagements with stakeholders.
• Manage development of high-quality research outputs including evidence syntheses, literature reviews, data summaries, and presentations.
• Prepare speeches, talking points, and briefing materials that synthesize economic research and translate technical findings for policy and practitioner audiences.
• Apply sector expertise to evaluate potential engagements for alignment with DIL's policy and research priorities.
• Lead the scoping and design of emerging research and policy initiatives, including conducting landscape analysis, evidence reviews, identifying partnership opportunities, and contributing to funding proposals.
• Manage and deepen strategic relationships with partners, funders, and collaborators by applying expertise in development economics and evidence-based research to advance DIL's policy and funding priorities.
• Engage senior leadership and the Faculty Director in communication strategy and development.
• Develop and contribute to relevant communications, including research papers, policy briefs, technical reports and presentations, applying specialized knowledge of microeconomic theory and international development.
• Manage a team of 2–3 policy staff, including Policy Associates and Managers, providing training and oversight.
• Contribute to cross-cutting Lab duties, such as participating in the Lab’s mentorship program and helping with trainings and onboardings and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in economics, public policy, international development or a related field.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience managing complex research and/or policy programs, preferably in the fields of international development, or development economics. Demonstrated experience in program evaluation and/or research design, including familiarity with and ability to evaluate RCT methodology (e.g. sample sizes, treatment arms, effect sizes, power calculations). Experience leading or contributing to RCTs, ideally in a low- or middle- income countries. Experience conducting or managing research in one or more sectors related to DIL’s core sectors: agriculture, education, water treatment, weather and climate adaptation, and child health. Proficiency in descriptive and applied statistics, including cost effectiveness analysis, with a demonstrated ability to interpret and communicate quantitative findings to non-technical audiences. Experience with data visualization, and quantitative and statistical analysis tools (e.g. Tableau, Datawrapper, Github, Stata, R). Demonstrated ability to leverage artificial intelligence while maintaining high quality products. Ability to synthesize evidence across multiple studies and translate findings into clear, accurate policy documents for diverse and cross-cultural audiences. Understanding of microeconomics and economic theory, ability to apply these to international development policy problems. Demonstrated ability to work independently, drive simultaneous projects to completion with minimal supervision, and work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders. Excellent written and oral communication skills. Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.