Application Guide

How to Apply for Operations & Program Coordinator

at Development Innovation Lab

🏢 About Development Innovation Lab

The Development Innovation Lab is a unique research center at the University of Chicago founded and led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer. It applies rigorous economic tools to develop scalable innovations that can improve lives in low- and middle-income countries, offering the chance to contribute to high-impact global development work from a remote setting.

About This Role

This Operations & Program Coordinator role serves as the organizational backbone for the lab, managing communications, digital platforms, scheduling, and program support for initiatives like the Weiss Fund. It's impactful because efficient operations enable researchers to focus on developing innovations that could benefit millions of people worldwide.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by checking and organizing the shared inbox, flagging urgent research inquiries, then updating application platforms for the Weiss Fund. You'd coordinate calendars for remote meetings across time zones, maintain organized digital files for ongoing projects, and prepare communications about program opportunities, all while ensuring smooth operations that enable the lab's global development research.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Development Innovation Lab Is Looking For

  • Has experience managing shared inboxes and digital platforms (like NextZen, Wufoo, Google Drive, Box) with strong attention to detail for document organization and naming conventions
  • Demonstrates excellent organizational and communication skills for coordinating meetings, schedules, and program support activities across remote teams
  • Shows initiative in flagging time-sensitive items and maintaining operational processes without constant supervision
  • Has interest in global development or economics, aligning with the lab's mission to create scalable solutions for low- and middle-income countries

📝 Tips for Applying to Development Innovation Lab

1

Highlight specific experience with the mentioned tools (NextZen, Wufoo, Google Drive, Box) rather than just listing 'tech proficiency'

2

Describe how you've managed shared communications or coordinated schedules in previous remote or academic environments

3

Mention any exposure to global development, economics research, or university operations that shows understanding of this context

4

Provide concrete examples of maintaining organized digital filing systems with established naming conventions

5

Explain how you've supported program operations or application processes in past roles, especially for research or funding initiatives

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Demonstrate understanding of the lab's mission and how operational efficiency enables their research impact", 'Provide specific examples of managing digital platforms and communications in organized systems', 'Highlight experience supporting program operations or coordination in remote or academic settings', 'Show how you balance routine tasks with proactive flagging of time-sensitive matters']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Michael Kremer's Nobel Prize-winning work and current research focus at the lab
  • → The Weiss Fund's specific goals and application processes for development innovations
  • → Recent projects or publications from the Development Innovation Lab
  • → How the lab's economic approach differs from traditional development organizations

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you organize and maintain documents in Google Drive/Box for a research team with multiple projects?
2 Describe your approach to managing a shared inbox with inquiries from researchers, partners, and applicants
3 How have you supported application processes or program coordination in past roles?
4 What experience do you have with website updates and digital platform management?
5 How would you handle scheduling and logistics for a remote team across different time zones?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Generic applications that don't address the specific tools mentioned (NextZen, Wufoo, etc.)
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of how operational roles support research impact in academic settings
  • Overlooking the global development context and treating this as a generic administrative position

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Development Innovation Lab!

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