Policy Manager, DIL-India

About the Trust

The University of Chicago Trust (the Trust) is a charitable trust in India, established in 2008 by an alumnus of The University of Chicago. The Trust’s objectives are to provide opportunities for grants to support educational programs, research programs, and activities for the betterment of India. 

The Development Innovation Lab – India (DIL-India)

DIL-India, based at the Trust in India, is dedicated to using the tools of economics to benefit millions of people. We work across sectors like health, education, agriculture, climate change, road safety, and others. We do so by collaborating with government agencies, firms, and non-profits in India to identify, test, and scale evidence-based solutions. 
DIL-India has a fast-growing portfolio of policy relevant research. For example, DIL-India is collaborating with the Ministry of Jal Shakti and other collaborators to identify and test safe water solutions that could be deployed at scale. Our estimates suggest that safe water solutions could save the lives of up to 136,000 children annually in India.

Position Description

The Trust is looking to hire a Policy Manager to collaborate with Professor Michael Kremer, Nobel Laureate, and the Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago. The candidate will work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to support addressing key policy challenges using evidence (see more information here). The candidate will also support and lead program conception, implementation, management, evaluation, policy writing and outreach, and capacity building.
The Policy Manager will lead activities as part of collaboration with the Innovation Commission for Climate Change, Food Security and Agriculture. This Commission convenes an independent and high-level group of individuals, including former heads of state, finance ministers, heads of international organizations, and private sector leaders. They are supported by technical experts, to address challenges at the intersection of climate, and agriculture. In India, the Commission will identify and assess agricultural innovations that could provide social benefits, but are currently underfunded, and propose institutional mechanisms that promote the development and scaling of innovations. The Policy Manager will collaborate with the Commission Secretariat to provide practical insights and lessons on addressing key policy challenges using evidence-based research.

Responsibilities

  • Support the DIL-India Chief Program Officer to build and maintain strong relationships with government officials, policymakers, and other partners in the agriculture space (including government ministries, non-profit organizations, and the private sector).
  • Map institutions and stakeholders in the government, for- and non-profit sectors relevant to the Commission's work
  • Manage project staff working on agriculture in India.
  • Shares reports with the Director of Evidence of the Innovation Commission.
  • Review and synthesize relevant literature and evidence, including emerging research findings, to inform decision-making, primarily providing policy recommendations.
  • Explore policies and programs that might benefit from and be well-suited for rigorous evaluation. This includes information gathering from stakeholders, field visits, and desk research.
  • Support and participate with researchers and partners in the implementation and potential scale-up of projects. This includes the execution of project budgets, pilots, roll-out, and monitoring (including data collection).
  • Support and participate in research study design. This includes refining the program’s theory of change; identifying practical constraints and potential threats to the integrity of the study; and providing deep local context and cultural sensitivity to the project design.
  • Share insights on addressing key policy challenges using evidence-based research with the Global Secretariat of the Innovation Commission.
  • Perform other priority work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s degree in economics, public policy or administration, or a closely related field.

Experience:

  • At least three years of relevant experience.
  • Experience with government officials, non-governmental organizations, and other key stakeholders in a developing country context.
  • Experience with communicating research findings, including for non-technical audiences.

Preferred Competencies

  • A strong track record of managing complex, fast-moving programs.
  • Excellent attention to detail.
  • Knowledge of impact evaluation methods, and randomized controlled trials.
  • Knowledge of agriculture interventions (e.g., soil health, weather forecasts, and digital extension).
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • Fluent in Hindi.
  • Fluent in English both orally and in writing.
  • Ability to work independently and problem-solve, as well as enlist the support of other teams within the organization.
  • Ability to work productively with local or virtual teams and stakeholders.
  • Ability to drive and adapt to change, particularly in the face of uncertainty.
  • Ability to prioritize effectively and successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Working Conditions

  • Based in Delhi
  • Occasional travel to the United States
  • Applicants must be willing to travel frequently to remote areas of the country.
  • Applicant must be legally authorized to work in India

Application Documents

  • Resume/CV (required)
  • Cover Letter (required)
  • References’ Contact Information (3 required)
  • Writing sample (required)

Apply now