Policy Fellow – UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)

Apply by 6th Nov 23 

UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP)
IIPP brings together a multidisciplinary group of cutting-edge academics and practitioners to influence global policy decisions and create new policy collaborations. Our mission is to change how public value is imagined, practised and evaluated to tackle societal challenges—and, by doing this, to deliver economic growth that is innovation-led, sustainable, and inclusive.

IIPP’s policy work helps global policymakers discover better solutions to complex problems in areas like industrial strategy, innovation policy, economic development, sustainable finance and digital transformation. Work with policymakers at all levels forms a crucial part of IIPP’s strategy in support of our mission to change how public-sector capacity is imagined, practiced, and evaluated.

About the project
IIPP is at the forefront of global debates on the role of the state in shaping sustainable and inclusive economies and on the public sector capabilities this requires. This post will support an exciting new project led by
Professor Mariana Mazzucato (PI) focused on developing a strategy for implementing the Government of Brazil’s ambitious agenda of economic transformation.

This project builds on Professor Mazzucato’s previous work with the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on the opportunity for mission oriented industrial strategy in the region. It will inform the advancement of a whole-of-government, mission-oriented approach to aligning economic goals with social and environmental goals, and will support Brazil’s Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) in building the public sector capacity required to implement this agenda, across three pillars: tools (with a focus on strategic procurement); institutions (with a focus on state-owned enterprises); and capabilities (with a focus on digital governance). MGI was created in March 2023 with a mandate to strengthen the Brazilian civil service and is uniquely positioned to rethink the role of government in driving broad-scale economic transformation. This project will advance the theory and practice of how states can invest in their capacity to shape markets and direct growth in a way that is innovation-led, sustainable and inclusive, making a significant contribution to the literature while also having immediate, real-world impact.

This project is being advanced in partnership with MGI and with the support of Open Society Foundations.

Anticipated compensation: equivalent to the range for a UCL Grade 7 post on UCL’s grade structure

Contract length: 8-10 months, November 2023 – August 2024

Number of positions: IIPP may hire 1-2 Policy Fellows, on a full-time or part-time contract basis – negotiable based on candidate availability and project needs

About the role
The Policy Fellow will work as a member of the project team, contributing to robust research, analysis and writing across the project’s topic areas, working closely with Professor Mariana Mazzucato and other relevant IIPP experts, and helping to ground the project in a keen understanding of the Brazilian policy landscape and economic context.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct research, including literature reviews, document reviews and expert interviews across the three workstreams: procurement policy, state-owned enterprises, and digital governance.
• Contribute to workshop design.
• Participate in meetings with key stakeholders and contribute to building strong relationships with partner organizations.
• Translate research findings into actionable policy insights and recommendations.
• Prepare high-quality research reports, policy briefs, and other relevant written outputs.
• Contribute to the dissemination of knowledge.

Key Requirements

• PhD in Economics, Public Policy, or a related field OR Master’s degree in a related field and equivalent
  experience.
• Demonstrable experience working on complex, evidence-based policy projects.
• Demonstrable experience working with policymakers.
• Proficiency in Portuguese and English.
• Strong understanding of the Brazilian policy landscape and economic context. The candidate may be based
  in Brazil or in the UK.
• Knowledge related to one or more of the project themes and the ability to quickly grasp key considerations
  across all themes – i.e., industrial strategy, procurement policy, state-owned enterprises, digital governance. Deep expertise in each of these areas is not required.

How to apply
To apply, please send a CV, cover letter and writing sample to: Manuel Maldonado at m.maldonado@ucl.ac.uk by 7:00am GMT on November 6th. Applications may be considered on a rolling basis.