Senior Policy Associate

Working at MIT offers opportunities, an environment, a culture – and benefits – that just aren’t found together anywhere else. If you’re curious, motivated, want to be part of a unique community, and help shape the future – then take a look at this opportunity.

SENIOR POLICY ASSOCIATE, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), to contribute to J-PAL’s mission of promoting evidence-informed policy.  The primary tasks will involve communication, analysis, and specialization. Responsibilities include creating materials for policy outreach, including publications, evaluation summaries, presentations, and website content; organizing events for policymakers; building relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies worldwide; presenting J-PAL’s work and research; collecting and examining project implementation data to conduct cost effectiveness analyses; conducting research and analysis for policy memos, grant proposals, and sector-specific work; serving as a liaison between J-PAL Global and one of J-PAL’s regional offices; and providing support to broader J-PAL projects.  The position is ideal for someone who is very interested in international development policy and the rigorous research that informs it. 

Job Requirements

 REQUIRED: a bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or closely related field that included coursework in microeconomics, econometrics, and development economics; at least four years of relevant work experience; comfort learning computer applications, including Salesforce; detail-orientation; strong writing and strategic thinking skills; understanding of and ability to communicate policy lessons from technical academic research in ways that policymakers and practitioners understand; ability to handle multiple projects at once with little supervision, meet deadlines, and effectively manage time as well as others; and self-motivation. Must enjoy working in teams. 

PREFERRED:  a master’s degree and knowledge of Spanish, French, or other languages.  Job #19122