Research Manager

University of Chicago; Washington; On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago seeks a full-time Research Manager to lead the Market Shaping Accelerator (MSA) team within the Development Innovation Lab. You will manage research projects with faculty and collaborators from CGD, Dartmouth, and others, building robust research systems and budgets for multiple projects.

You will guide data collection, analysis, and reporting, mentor staff, and drive partnerships with governments and donors to advance market-shaping economics research.

Qualifications

• Minimum: college or university degree in related field.
• 5–7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Experience conducting randomized control trials.
• Graduate-level training in economics and econometrics.
• Undergraduate training in economics and econometrics.

Responsibilities

• Implement MSA’s research in market shaping advancement with high-quality data collection across projects.
• Co-develop and manage a small portfolio of economics research projects with colleagues.
• Mentor MSA research staff including Research Professionals and Research Associates; recruit and train new staff.
• Lead research communications with MSA partners and internal stakeholders.
• Manage high-level research partnerships with governments, non-profit organizations, and donors.
• Develop and manage research project budgets and track finances.
• Advise teams on budgeting and build budgeting tools for teams.
• Build internal research project management systems and processes; use AI to automate workflows.
• Identify and recruit top research talent globally; design processes to do so.
• Solve complex problems related to administration of projects; contribute to methodology.
• Guide data collection, evaluation and analysis; design databases; write reports and manuscripts.

Skills

Organizational skills

Written communication

Attention to detail

Cross-cultural communication

Experience managing research teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Graduate-level training in economics & econometrics

Job description

Department

SSD Development Economics Center: Staff and Temporary Employees

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.

The Market Shaping Accelerator is led by the world’s leading market shaping scholars including Nobel laureate Michael Kremer (UChicago), President of CGD and professor Rachel Glennerster, and Dartmouth Professor Christopher Snyder. MSA aims to catalyze the development of Advance Market Commitments and other market shaping mechanisms to incentivize innovations addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change and biosecurity. MSA identifies promising opportunities, develops high-impact proposals, and engages with policymakers and funders.

Job Summary

The job 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.

The Development Innovation Lab is seeking a full-time Research Manager to work with the Market Shaping Accelerator (MSA) Team, faculty director Rachel Glennerster, collaborators at the Center for Global Development (CGD) and Dartmouth, and other researchers on marking shaping economics research projects.

The Research Manager will manage research and build out the MSA’s research systems.

Responsibilities

• Implement MSA’s research in marking shaping advancement, ensuring high-quality data collection across projects.
• In partnership with colleagues, co-develop and manage a small portfolio of economics research projects.
• Manage and mentor MSA research staff including Research Professionals and Research Associates; recruit and train new MSA research staff.
• Lead research communications with MSA partners and internal stakeholders.
• Manage high-level research partnerships with MSA partners including governments, non-profit organizations, and donors.
• Develop and manage research project budgets and track project finances.
• Advise teams on effective project budgeting and build budgeting tools for teams.
• Build the MSA’s internal research project management systems and processes; use AI to automate and improve workflows.
• Identify and recruit top research talent globally; design processes that do so.
• Solves complex problems relating to the administration of projects, including planning new procedures, adapting existing procedures to the needs of the project, and making significant contributions to methodology.
• Guides data collection, evaluation and analysis. Designs and manages databases. Writes reports, articles and manuscripts.
• 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.

Certifications:

—

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience:

• Experience conducting randomized control trials.
• Demonstrated experience managing or creating project budgets.
• Graduate level training in economics and econometrics.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent organizational skills, written communication, and high-level of attention to detail.
• Strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Experience conducting research including managing research teams.
• Exposure to randomized control trials.
• Undergraduate training in economics and econometrics.

Working Conditions

• Candidates must be willing to travel flexibly as needed for their respective responsibilities.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$85,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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