University of Chicago

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago is a new initiative led by Nobel laureate Professor Michael Kremer. Announced in fall 2020, DIL uses economics tools to develop and test innovations that improve lives in developing countries.

The Initiative Directors will work closely with DIL director Michael Kremer and the faculty director for each initiative to establish and lead this new initiative within DIL. The Initiative Directors will build relationships with agencies and organizations working in their sector. This includes high-level relationship building, research project development and management, financial and grant management, and program and donor development. To be successful they will need to have strong experience working in development economics research, be a highly dynamic and analytical individual who can build relationships, and excel in a diverse set of responsibilities from working with partners to developing research designs to translating academic research into policy and implementation recommendations.

DIL is seeking a full-time director to set up and lead one or more new initiatives on agriculture, education, water and child health, institutions for innovation, and meta-analysis.

Responsibilities

•Identifies, develops and manages research projects, with travel as necessary to support project development and set-up.
•Designs and executes strategies to enable scaling of relevant innovations through partners.
•Builds relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies.
•Leads global and local dissemination and policy outreach for the initiative, with a view to scaling up insights from the research.
•Hires and manages staff to meet the initiative’s goals.
•Spearheads fundraising and grant writing efforts to support core initiative activities.
•Ensures smooth administration of the Program, including financial and administrative oversight, project management, and grant reporting.
•Coordinates and collaborates with other initiative leads.
•Collaborates on research design.
• Develops lab strategy and plans.

Preferred Qualifications
Education:

•Master's degree.
•PhD or master's degree in economics, public policy or international development including significant training in economics.

Experience:

•Seven+ of relevant work experience, PhD can count for up to 3 years of experience.
•PhD level training in microeconomics and econometrics; candidates from a policy background or related academic background who can demonstrate similar knowledge will also be considered.
•Prior experience working on randomized evaluations, development economics research, and/or public policy in developing countries.
•Substantial experience working in one or more of the initiative areas in developing countries.
•Background working with developing country governments or large bilateral and multilateral funders.