Policy Professional, Market Shaping Accelerator
The University of Chicago

Job Info

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Department

Becker Friedman Institute - Development Innovation Lab

About the Department

Founded and led by Nobel laureate and Faculty Director, Professor Michael Kremer, the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) is an affiliate of the Development Economics Center at the University of Chicago. Formally inaugurated in the spring of 2022, DIL brings researchers of various fields together with governments, firms and non-profits to use the tools of economics to identify, test, refine and scale innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. The Market Shaping Accelerator at UChicago is part of the Development Innovation Lab. It aims to promote the effective use of market shaping instruments (such as Advance Market Commitments) to incentivize innovations that address pressing global challenges such as climate change and biosecurity.

Job Summary

The Policy Professional will work with the Policy Lead, Director, Professor Rachel Glennerster and other colleagues at the Market Shaping Accelerator to support the development and adoption of high impact market shaping proposals that will incentivize innovations that address climate change, biosecurity, and other pressing global challenges.

Responsibilities

• Supports economic appraisal, including cost-benefit analysis, of market shaping proposals.
• Supports analysis of policy challenges such as climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and pandemic preparedness.
• Reviews and maps academic and policy literatures.
• Identifies promising candidate problems to tackle with market shaping instruments through desk research.
• Estimates the size of relevant markets, the potential benefits of new innovations and the potential size (cost) of the market shaping instruments.
• Understands the market structure of key sectors.
• Supports investigation of technologies such as cooling, improved crop varieties, carbon removal, vaccines.
• Communicates with market shaping proposal advocates, innovators, and funders.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:
Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
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Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through ---
Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in economics, mathematics, statistics, public policy, or related discipline.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Project management skills; plan tasks for teams, monitor progress, make corrections to plans.
• Data and spreadsheet skills (e.g. building models for economic and financial appraisal).

Preferred Competencies

• Team player with good problem-solving and time management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills as well as written and oral communication skills.
• Work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Stay organized on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Curiosity and interest in climate change, biosecurity, including pandemic preparedness.
• Careful understanding of economic incentives and an ability to creatively apply economic principles.
• Comfort with uncertainty and willingness to engage in back-of-the-envelope (or Fermi) economic calculations and estimates.

Working Conditions

• Perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
• Some travel to low and middle income countries.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Three Professional References Contact Information (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

Employees must comply with the University's COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at:http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

This job has expired.