Research Manager

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 objectives of the UChicago Trust are to provide opportunities for grants to support agriculture, water, or 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 and DIL-India are seeking a full-time Research Manager to support the development of economics research projects in India in collaboration with Michael Kremer and other researchers. The Research Managers will initially contribute to DIL-India’s education projects and may support other projects in DIL-India’s fast-growing research portfolio.

Responsibilities

  • Manage research and data collection activities for DIL-India projects. 
  • Conduct qualitative research, desk research, and quantitative analysis to inform research design.
  • Build research work programs and track progress. 
  • Manage DIL-India research staff including (Senior) Research Professionals and (Senior) Research Associates; onboard and train new DIL-India staff as needed. 
  • Handle research project implementation including new proposal development, contracting, budgeting, donor reporting and communication, and grants management tasks associated with research needs. 
  • Work closely with the Lead Researchers, and Policy Managers to cultivate and sustain high-level research relationships with collaborators including governments, non-profit organizations, and donors; develop new collaborations for the organization.

Required Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s Degree in economics, public policy, or related field
  • Graduate-level training in economics and econometrics

Experience:

  • Minimum of 3 years of experience, which can be a combination of graduate education and work experience.

Competencies

  • Knowledge of and experience with fieldwork in developing countries. 
  • Experience conducting research and managing research teams.
  • A strong track record of managing complex, fast-moving programs.
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to work independently and problem-solve, as well as enlist the support of other teams within the organization.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Practiced running randomized evaluations.
  • Knowledge of the Indian education system 
  • Fluent in English both orally and in writing
  • Fluency in Hindi
  • Ability to prioritize effectively and successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously.

Working Conditions

  • Based in or near project locations with regular travel to state capitals and Delhi.  
  • Possible travel to the United States  
  • Candidates must be flexible and able to travel extensively across India as per the requirement of their assignment(s).   
Applicant must be legally authorized to work in India

Application Documents

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

Priority deadline for this role is October 8th. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Apply Online