Improved Forecasts Lead- Development Innovation Lab - Chicago

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 hosts the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security, and Agriculture, chaired by Professor Kremer. The Commission will convene an independent and high-level group of former heads of state, finance ministers, and private sector leaders to promote innovations related to agriculture and food security in the context of climate change. 

Job Description

The Innovation Commission Team is seeking an Improved Forecasts Lead. This role will build on research by Amir Jina, Fiona Burlig, Gregory Lane, and coauthors which suggests that the benefits of procuring and delivering improved weather forecasts outweigh the costs by orders of magnitude. Through the Innovation Commission, DIL is scaling up research and policy implementation to increase access to improved forecasts in low- and middle-income countries.  

The Improved Forecasts Lead will focus on scaling this intervention through partnerships with funders, multilaterals, NGOs, and various government offices in several countries. Reporting to the Initiative Director and Professor Amir Jina, this role will primarily focus on partnership management and stakeholder engagement while also including evaluation support, project management, research design, and management, as well as policy writing and outreach.

This position requires frequent international travel to India and other countries. Applicants must be willing to travel to remote areas of the countries involved. This is a full-time position for one-year with possibility for renewal.

Responsibilities

• Lead activities related to testing and scaling improved weather and seasonal forecasts, supporting Prof. Amir Jina. This includes sourcing and developing policy and funding relationships, policymaker and funder relationship management, and external communications. Create evidence syntheses drawing on evidence from academic publications and translating technical language faithfully for a policy audience. 
• Engage government officials, policy practitioners, and researchers working on projects related to sourcing, procuring, and disseminating improved forecasts for farmers in various countries.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key partners in the relevant government offices. 
• Scope work for developing research and policy designs in several countries, including background research on forecast availability, quality, and access as well as travel and fieldwork to meet with potential partners and conduct interviews and focus group discussions among target populations.
• Present feasibility assessments and initial analyses with policymakers and researchers through in-person meetings, memos, and phone calls. 
• Coordinate DIL researchers and organizational partners on the study design. This includes refining the program’s theory of change; identifying constraints and potential threats to the integrity of the study; and providing deep local context and cultural sensitivity to the project design.
• Coordinate DIL researchers and our partners with the implementation and potential scale-up of projects. This includes the execution of piloting, roll-out, and data collection plans.
• Create publications and presentations that summarize and synthesize the policy implications of key research results.
• Analyze challenges and identify innovative solutions to research and policy design challenges. 
• Create resources for policy makers and partners including: guides, documents, and presentations on research processes and methods.

Qualifications

• A master’s degree in economics, public policy, or a closely related, quantitatively rigorous field.
• At least seven years of relevant work experience. (PhD can count for up to 3 years of experience.  We will also consider candidates with substantial experience working on field experiments during their PhD.)
• Excellent quantitative, analytical, and financial management skills required. 
• Experience managing teams and projects
• Experience interacting and collaborating with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and other key stakeholders in a developing country context.
• Experience with presenting research findings at public forums, including non-research focused audiences.  
• Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, with keen attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to liaise with external stakeholders and manage relationships with partners. Ability to anticipate potential objections from partners. 
• Detailed understanding of economic incentives and an ability to creatively apply economic principles to policy challenges
• Ability to work independently and solve complex problems, as well as enlist the expertise of other teams within the organization.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Complete fluency in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD in economics, public health, or a closely related, quantitatively rigorous field.
• A background (education or professional experience) in agriculture, climate change, and/or weather forecasting.
• Fluency in relevant local language(s).
• Experience working with non-profit organizations and government officials on agriculture projects and program implementation.
• Strong knowledge of the social and cultural context in relevant countries.
• Background in randomized controlled trials. 

Behavioral Requirements

• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and identify innovative solutions to challenges, particularly in the face of uncertainty.
• Ability to apply sound judgment to accomplish project goals through instated practices, procedures, and policies while delivering on DIL’s mission. 
• Ability to lead local and/or virtual teams with natural authority. 

Working Conditions

• Perform tasks mostly indoors in an office setting.
• Work independently for periods of eight (8) hours or more.
• Frequent international travel to India and other countries, including to remote areas in low and middle-income countries.