Improved Forecasts Lead - Innovation Commission at Development Innovation Lab

Summary of the Organization:

The Development Innovation Lab (DIL) 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.

Summary of the Role:

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. 

The position manages scientific research projects or scientific research facilities. Uses considerable on-the-job experience to ensure compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies. Works independently to write articles, reports and manuscripts, and presents research findings at meetings and/or conferences.

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:

• Leads 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. Creates evidence syntheses drawing on evidence from academic publications and translating technical language faithfully for a policy audience. 
• Engages government officials, policy practitioners, and researchers working on projects related to sourcing, procuring, and disseminating improved forecasts for farmers in various countries.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with key partners in the relevant government offices. 
• Scopes 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.
• Presents feasibility assessments and initial analyses with policymakers and researchers through in-person meetings, memos, and phone calls. 
• Coordinates 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.
• Coordinates 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.
• Creates publications and presentations that summarize and synthesize the policy implications of key research results.
• Analyzes challenges and identifies innovative solutions to research and policy design challenges.
• Creates resources for policy makers and partners including guides, documents, and presentations on research processes and methods.
• Guides data collection, evaluation and analysis. Designs and manages databases. Writes reports, articles and manuscripts.
• Presents research findings at meetings and conferences, as well as to funding agencies. Conducts literature reviews. Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: 

• PhD in economics, public health, or a closely related, quantitatively rigorous field.

Experience: 

• At least seven years of relevant work experience. PhD may count for up to 3 years of experience. We will also consider candidates with substantial experience working on field experiments during their PhD.
• Managing teams and projects.
• Interacting and collaborating with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and other key stakeholders in a developing country context.
• Presenting research findings at public forums, including non-research focused audiences. 

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Detailed understanding of economic incentives and an ability to creatively apply economic principles to policy challenges.
• ​Complete fluency in English.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent quantitative, analytical, and financial management skills.
• Work independently and solve complex problems, as well as enlist the expertise of other teams within the organization.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• 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. Anticipate potential objections from partners.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex problems and identify innovative solutions to challenges, particularly in the face of uncertainty.
• Apply sound judgment to accomplish project goals through instated practices, procedures, and policies while delivering on DIL’s mission.
• Lead local and/or virtual teams with natural authority.