UL Inclusive Economy Lab Our Focus for generations, government policies and institutional choices have excluded many Americans from opportunities for education, employment, and wealth creation. Ending intergenerational poverty and building an inclusive economy—one that provides real economic opportunities for all communities—requires collaboration across sectors, as well as scientific evidence about what works and what doesn’t. Traditional research can take years, and the results often don’t reach those who need the information most—the people living with and working on these issues. The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab solves this by working with policymakers, organizations, and communities to identify their most urgent and pressing challenges, co-generate evidence about what works, and translate that evidence into real policy changes that expand economic opportunity and improve lives.

 

Founded in 2015, The University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab conducts rigorous research that expands economic opportunity for people harmed by discrimination, disinvestment, and segregation. One of five Urban Labs based at the Harris School of Public Policy, the Inclusive Economy Lab is led by Pritzker Director Marianne Bertrand, Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the Booth School of Business. We partner with policymakers, community-based organizations and others to identify their most urgent and pressing challenges, co-generate evidence about what works, and translate findings into policy changes that end intergenerational poverty. By identifying barriers to social mobility and racial equity and highlighting the programs and policies that have the most positive impact, our work creates aims to create greater economic opportunity.

 

We specialize in evaluating programs with the potential to improve lives in four main areas:

• College and Career Success

• Housing Stability

• Financial Security

• Quality Jobs Who We Are The Inclusive Economy Lab is led by Marianne Bertrand, the Chris P. Dialynas Distinguished Service Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Co-Director of Social Enterprise Initiative at Booth, and the Pritzker Director of the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab. Her research, which covers labor economics, corporate finance, and development economics, has been published widely. She is a member of the board of directors for the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our full-time staff currently consists of an Executive Director, Scientific Director and twenty-five full-time staff, including data analysts and program managers at our main office in downtown Chicago. Our constantly evolving portfolio of projects spans workforce development, housing and homelessness, postsecondary education, and income support policies.

 

Our Values

• Conduct science in service of cities: We feel a sense of urgency to do research that improves people’s lives. We select projects that lead to solutions for policy, practice, and increased investments on the ground. Our research is rigorous and informed by the historic and current contexts that shape urban residents’ lives.

• Foster lasting relationships: We collaborate with policymakers, practitioners, and people with lived experience to understand multiple perspectives and figure out what works.

• Elevate equity & inclusion: We aim to hire people with a range of personal and professional backgrounds, skillsets, and identities. We expand access to evaluation for a broad range of organizations and we conduct work that affirms the dignity of all people.

• Check our privilege: We recognize the power and privilege we have as members of the University of Chicago. We practice humility and recognize that expertise comes in many forms and there are limits to our own.

• Embrace a growth mindset: We invest in our people and develop our skills and content knowledge together. We work respectfully as a team to achieve our shared goals.

This role performs a broad range of operational business activities to design, implement, and monitor a variety of human resource programs. Responsibilities are within the human resources function as a generalist or in a combination of disciplines, allowing the incumbent to acquire higher-level skills.

• Assists with training and development needs for employees.
• Assists in the development of human resources policies and procedures.
• Assists with processing of terminations.
• Supports staff hiring processes, including developing job descriptions, interviewing and reference checking, handling employment offers, and conducting orientation. Maintains appropriate human resources data and records.
• May help counsel employees on benefits and compensation. Coordinates with managers and senior colleagues to determine employee compensation. Analyzes data and prepares charts, graphs and trend lines for management review with a moderate to high level of guidance.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

• Engage thoughtfully with issues related to race, identity, and equity and work across difference.
• Demonstrated experience working with communities that have experienced segregation and disinvestment.
• Customer service orientation and communication skills.
• Utilize critical thinking skills to draw conclusions/solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet tight deadlines.
• Work both independently and collaborate with others on internal teams.
• Demonstrate high level of professionalism and personal integrity.

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

Human Resources Individual Contributor 37.5
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No Hourly Non-Exempt $55,250.00 - $71,500.00 Yes