Chief Program Officer, 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 working closely 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 Chief Program Officer (CPO) will lead research and policy engagements for DIL-India. The CPO will collaborate closely with Nobel Laureate Michael Kremer and other Lead Researchers based at the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) at the University of Chicago. Candidates need substantial familiarity with development economics, research, and evidence-based policy. The CPO will be a dynamic, analytical, and self-motivated leader who can build relationships, engage with multicultural teams, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

  • Develop partnerships: Build, maintain and cultivate relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, firms, foundations, and multilateral agencies.
  • Implement research: Work closely with principal investigators of each research project to ensure quality research design, execution, and analysis, while being sensitive to local needs and context. 
  • Evidence informed policy: Ensure research findings are widely disseminated and targeted at relevant stakeholders. Facilitate better evidence-based decision-making through events, interpersonal relationships, and close engagement with partners throughout the research process. 
  • Programmatic Leadership: Recruit and manage DIL-India programmatic staff in accordance with UChicago Trust policies and applicable law.
  • Programmatic Resource mobilization: Informed, accurate, and compelling proposal development and project planning for both resource mobilization (grants, awards, gifts, etc.) and program implementation.
  • Program Budgeting: Ensure efficient allocation, monitoring and reporting of programmatic resources. This includes annual programmatic budget development, accountability for the disbursement and appropriate use of project funds.
  • Programmatic Research Compliance: Establish and enforce safeguards for monitoring, accountability, and compliance of research operations in accordance with research directives, policy guidance, IRB protocols, and Trust policies., 
  • Perform other related work as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Master’s degree in economics, public policy, or international development including significant training in economics.
  • PhD level training in economics, public policy, or international development.

Experience:

  • Ten or more years of relevant work experience including substantive implementation of development economics research and informing decision-making in India. Ph.D. can count for up to 3 years of experience.
  • Ph.D.-level training in microeconomics and econometrics; candidates from a related academic background who can demonstrate similar knowledge and competencies will also be considered. We will consider experienced candidates with strong economics training at a top master’s program.

Preferred Competencies

  • Strong knowledge and understanding of the economic, political, social, and cultural context in India including deep familiarity with relevant academic research especially in the field of economics.
  • Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills in English and fluency in spoken Hindi; other Indian languages are a plus.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and maintain high-level relationships with senior stakeholders in governments, international development practitioners, and/or academic researchers.
  • Effective project management skills, including managing and successfully working across teams, budgeting, attention to operational and research details, and ability to manage multiple projects efficiently.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Expert problem-solving and analytical skills.
  • Accomplished in research techniques and/or methods.
  • Productive collaboration skills for successfully coordinating multiple stakeholders in achieving shared goals.
  • Organizing policy events as well as producing policy resources and publications.
  • Implementing large-scale programs in coordination with diverse stakeholders.
  • Familiarity with randomized evaluations and other forms of causally identified research; experience implementing randomized evaluations.
  • Experience with evidence-based public policy in low- or middle-income countries (LMICs)
  • Work in water, health, education, and agriculture sectors in LMICs is desirable. 
  • Collaboration, and a track record of successfully implementing change, with governments or large bilateral/multilateral funders in low- or middle-income countries.

Working Conditions

  • Based in Delhi with regular travel to project locations, including rural India
  • Occasional travel to the United States
  • 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)

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