Senior AI Policy Associate

Position Overview:

J-PAL is collaborating with the Schwarzman College of Computing at MIT to work on the intersection of Global Development and Artificial Intelligence. This initiative will work on evaluating and scaling transformative applications of AI in development programs. J-PAL is recruiting a Senior AI Policy Associate under this initiative to play a key role in facilitating AI-related research by J-PAL affiliates and transforming relevant research into actionable poverty alleviation policies around the world. Staff will connect the dots between economics, AI, and policy and must be passionate about working with organizations to form partnerships for evidence-informed AI-based development policy.

The position will be based in Cambridge, MA, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with two in-person work days per week. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Only applications following all instructions at the bottom of this page will be considered.

Responsibilities:

Your work requires a breadth of knowledge and a depth of understanding to support J-PAL’s growing policy efforts. As a Senior AI Policy Associate, your primary tasks will involve brainstorming with co-chairs and the team on the opportunities and strategy for expanding our work in AI, analysis, communication, and specialization.

Sector Specialization and Initiative Project Management (45%): Develop in-depth knowledge of using AI to solve complex global development problems across J-PAL’s sectors (Agriculture, Crime, Violence, & Conflict, Education, Environment, Energy, & Climate Change, Finance, Firms, Gender, Health, Labor Markets, Social Protection, and Political Economy & Governance) and provide evidence support to policymakers. Senior AI Policy associates will also have the opportunity to support and manage the administration of an AI-specific, ongoing competitive research fund by hosting specific rounds of funding, processing grant proposals, coordinating with researchers, and supporting partnership development between implementing groups and research affiliates to spark new research projects.

Evidence Communication and Dissemination (30%): Write publications that “translate” economic research into lessons for policymakers around the world. Create materials for AI firms to learn how to evaluate their products and to learn about interventions that prove effective. Associates will have the opportunity to support senior staff to create materials for policy outreach, including publications, presentations, grant proposals, donor reporting, policy memos, blogs, social media content and newsletters, and website content among other sector-specific work. Associates have the opportunity to help organize events and further their communication skills by presenting at conferences and participating in meetings with policymakers and partner organizations. Associates will also write, publish, and disseminate evaluation summaries.

Other (25%): Have the opportunity to support J-PAL’s overall mission in a number of ways. These can include supporting the work of a functional team (policy writing, cost-effectiveness), supporting a particular policy partnership, and performing internal tasks such as knowledge management, supporting recruitment and hiring, internal training and onboarding, supporting work on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and undertaking professional development opportunities.

Supervision Received:

Senior AI Policy Associate will report to the Senior AI Policy Manager.

Supervision Exercised:

None.

Qualifications & Skills:

Your technical expertise, strong communication and organizational skills, passion for translating research into action, and interest in international development make you an ideal candidate for the Senior AI Policy Associate.

Education: You hold at least a bachelor’s degree (master’s preferred) with significant training in economics, including intermediate-level economics and econometrics, and a basic understanding of how Machine Learning works. Do you have a demonstrated academic interest in international development and public policy and/or international experience? Even better.

Experience: Minimum two years of relevant full- or part-time work experience. Full-time work experience includes a relevant job or a master’s degree. Part-time experience includes related internships in research and/or policy work. You may be a recent or soon-to-be graduate with related internships, or you may have previous experience in research and/or development work.

Skills: You are comfortable with intermediate-level economics and econometrics, especially randomized evaluation methodology and understand the basics of Machine Learning. Additionally, you are comfortable working in or learning computer applications, including Google Suite, and Salesforce. English language fluency is required. Knowledge of Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or other languages spoken in our regions of work are a plus.

Communication: You are detail-oriented and have advanced writing skills. You understand how to communicate policy lessons from technical academic research in ways that policymakers and practitioners understand. You are precise, clear, and creative.

Organization: You are a strategic thinker. You can handle multiple projects at once, meet deadlines, and effectively manage your time.

Cultural competencies: You are comfortable and adept at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners and policymakers from around the world. You display sensitivity, adaptability, and inclusivity in your engagement with people from diverse backgrounds including age, ability, culture, gender, nationality, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and other identities. We appreciate candidates who have familiarity with concepts and frameworks such as racial equity or gender analyses.

Attitude: You love learning. You are passionate about international development policy and the rigorous research that informs it. You are agile, adaptable, self-motivated, hardworking, and collaborative.

Location: This position is based in Cambridge, MA and will require coming to the office in-person at least two days every week (currently those days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays for all staff). The other 3 days staff can opt to work from anywhere. Hybrid policies are subject to change annually. We greatly value in-office presence and therefore this position, similar to others at J-PAL Global, is not eligible for full-time remote work.

Travel: Some travel required (~10% of time)

Communication: You are detail-oriented and have advanced writing skills. You understand how to communicate policy lessons from technical academic research in ways that policymakers and practitioners understand. You are precise, clear, and creative