The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) is looking to recruit a dynamic, dedicated individual with an interest in cutting-edge, policy-relevant research in development economics for a full-time Research Officer position within its Private Enterprise Development in Low-Income Countries (PEDL) programme, which has recently been extended. PEDL is a joint research initiative of CEPR and the Department for International Development (DFID). It offers competitive research grants for projects related to the behaviour of firms and the structure of markets in developing countries, with the aim to better understand what drives private sector growth in these countries. More information can be found at http://pedl.cepr.org/.

This position includes the following tasks:

• Assessing scientific progress and reviewing outputs and results of active research projects from an academic standpoint – involves assessing ~10 progress reports per month.
• Disseminating the results from awarded projects by editing researchers’ policy briefs, writing project summaries, and managing website content.
• Drafting PEDL Policy Insights, an 8-10 page summary of a longer and more comprehensive literature review on novel or understudied topics in development economics, so that the underlying research can be shared with a wider policy audience.
• Writing executive summaries for PEDL Policy Insight and PEDL Synthesis pieces.
• Producing reports for DFID outlining the Initiative’s progress and achievements against its original timeline and objectives and identifying key policy-relevant projects to highlight.
• Sending DFID PEDL’s best publications monthly for internal circulation and updating the R4D.
• Working with a web developer to rebuild the PEDL website in order to better highlight results from funded projects as new types of outputs become available.
• Supporting overall programme management by helping to organise conferences, assisting the Scientific Coordinator of the PEDL initiative by evaluating research grant proposals for policy relevance and scientific merit, smoothing the grant application progress and tracking the progress of PEDL.
• Liaising between researchers, the PEDL Scientific Coordinator and the CEPR Grants Coordination team.

The candidate should have the following qualifications/skills:

Essential

• Postgraduate degree in economics, public policy or a related discipline with a significant focus on econometric techniques and experimental design.
• High critical abilities for identifying scientific value in research projects and a solid understanding of the issues related to rigorous identification in economic research.
• Strong writing skills, with the ability to translate research results into non-specialist terms.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills and ability to prioritise among competing tasks.
• Ability to take initiative and work autonomously.
• Strong interest in development and growth economics, firms and markets.
• The candidate should have the right to work in the UK.

Preferred

• Research experience (e.g. Research Assistance experience).
• Experience managing websites and social media.
• Experience working in developing countries.

Salary: £30k – £33k, full time

To Apply

Candidates can apply by submitting a CV and short cover letter outlining their skills and motivation by email to . Candidates should also mention their availability and preferred start date in the cover letter.

The deadline is Thursday 24^th May