Application Deadline: 27 October 2025
Department: International Economic Development Group
Location: London, UK
Compensation: £47,700 / year
Description
Purpose of the job
To develop, fundraise for, conduct and manage high-quality and innovative research, policy advice and public affairs programmes, broadly within the Institute’s overall strategy and with the aim of inspiring and informing policy. To lead policy research and advisory projects, generally cross-country and cross-institutional, engage with policymakers in research and advisory processes, and disseminate results.
The work of the International Economic Development Group (IEDG) covers three core themes
- Trade and trade policy
- Trade and environment
- Macro-economics and economic transformation
Each of these themes have senior leadership and research staff. In this context IEDG has created a vacancy for a research fellow to contribute to the area of macro-economics. The envisaged Research Fellow is to develop and advance the macro-economics workstream in IEDG with other researchers in IEDG and other ODI Global programmes. He/she should develop, fundraise for, and deliver a cutting edge, high quality and influential programme of research, policy advice and public affairs.
This work programme should build on recent ODI Global work on macro-economics, e.g. in the context of Sri Lanka and Tanzania, our work on global shocks and the IMF and the macro-economics weekly briefings led by senior macro-economics researchers. We expect the Research Fellow to be well versed in macro-economic statistics and have experience working on macro-economic policy in a low and middle income country setting.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Research and Funding
- Develop research proposals, expressions of interest and full project proposals.
- Seek external funding for research proposals both to sustain the RF’s own professional activities and to contribute to the Institute's costs and to meet individual and collective financial targets.
- Develop new concepts and ideas to extend intellectual understanding and inform policy.
- Assess, interpret and evaluate the outcomes of research, and develop ideas for the application of research outcomes.
- Monitor and analyse developments in the external environment
- Contribute to the development and management of the annual plans and medium and long term strategies of relevant research groups and programmes.
- Undertake frequent travel overseas for research related purposes.
Project Management
- Take responsibility for the implementation and administrative and financial management of research, advisory and public affairs projects.
- Liaise with and report to donors, manage budgets and consultants and the inputs of other project partners
- Manage the work of staff working on the RF’s own projects and other project team members, including ROs and associates as appropriate.
- Undertake general oversight of the work programme of particular ROs, as assigned by the Director of Programmes.
Policy Advice, Public Affairs, and Dissemination
- Author research reports, policy briefs and other documents for publication
- Carry out public affairs work, representing ideas, knowledge and institutional concerns with the aim of informing policy
- Disseminate the results of research through peer reviewed channels, the media, lunchtime meetings, conferences etc.
- Respond to ad hoc media requests in area of specialisation
- Sit on advisory committees for other research and advisory work, within and outside ODI Global
- Use and build relevant networks and support the development of Group contracts
Line management
- Recruit, induct, develop, and support directly managed staff.
- Review resource needs and implement strategies to meet changing workloads of direct line reports.
- Conduct appraisals, set appropriate objectives and team/institutional priorities, monitor and manage performance against these.
Collegiate life
Contribute to the Institute’s collegiate life through:
- Such ODI Global series as the Working Papers, Research Studies, Briefing Papers, and journals
- Such ODI Global activities as discussion groups, lunchtime meetings, staff meetings, working groups, interviews, external representation
- Peer review and guidance to colleagues and/or other Group outputs
- Provide intellectual mentoring for less experienced research staff and support them as they begin to lead projects of their own
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Person Specification
Essential
Posts representing the initial appointment as Research Fellow, require substantial research or equivalent experience, a record of publication and public affairs, and clear evidence of successful development, management and funding of a number of projects brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
Knowledge and Qualifications
- A degree and post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline, ideally related to macro-economics;
- Extensive and deep knowledge of key macro-economic issues and organisations in international development
- Fluency in English, and preferably a good command of at least one other language.
Experience
- Experience in policy-oriented research, demonstrated by a track record of publications and reports;
- Extensive work experience in a low or middle income country
Skills/Abilities
- Strong analytical skills, a capacity to write clearly, and excellent organisational and oral communication skills
- A demonstrated capacity for policy advisory or public-affairs work, based on an analytical approach, and an innovative and creative communications ability.
- Project management skills
- Ability to translate research ideas into fundable projects
- Excellent communication abilities in relation to a wide variety of audiences
- Skills in negotiation, listening, communication of ideas, problem solving, decision making
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Time management skills, including managing a complex and varied workload
Desirable
- Fluency in a language other than English and competency in others
- Experience of working in international organizations
- A history of engagement in major policy processes such as Parliamentary Select Committees and/or international initiatives
- Regular contribution to academic journals, including in an editorial capacity
- Active membership of professional associations and networks
- Internationally recognised expert in their chosen field
Key Relationships and Contacts
Internal: Managing Director of ODI Global, Director of Programmes, Group staff, staff in Finance as relevant Associates and Interns as appropriate
External: Major donors, bi-laterals and multilateral organisations, including DFID, the World Bank/IMF, UN agencies, EU, DAC, bi-laterals, developing country governments, international and national NGOs. Academic institutions and individuals. Public institutions with an interest in development (schools, professional groups). Media as appropriate. Fundraising and joint project development.
- DFID and other bilateral and multilateral donors and related organisations (EU, OECD, UN, World Bank etc.)
- Policy and advocacy staff at development NGOs, nationally and internationally
- Academics and other researchers, nationally and internationally
All staff are expected to:
- Positively support equality of opportunity both within ODI Global and externally
- Help maintain a safe working environment and take responsibility for own and colleagues’ Health and Safety
- Undertake such other duties within the scope of their post as may be requested by their Manager
