Careers

Founded in 2017, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center’s mission is to advance policy-oriented research for financial stability, human well-being and environmental sustainability.

To fulfill our mission, we conduct rigorous policy research; provide a convening place for scholars and stakeholders; engage in policy dialogue with policymakers, civil society and media; and offer experiential learning for Boston University students. The GDP Center strives to not only be a think tank, but also a do tank. Come work with us.

Current Openings:

OUTREACH SPECIALIST, Task Force on Climate, Development and the International Financial Architecture

The Global Economic Governance Initiative at Boston University seeks an Outreach Specialist to drive external engagement for the Task Force on Climate, Development and the International Financial Architecture (“Task Force”). This role connects world-class research with global stakeholders to advance actionable solutions at the intersection of climate finance and development policy. If you thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, love working in global development across countries and time zones, and excel at building relationships that turn research into real-world impact, this position offers a unique opportunity to be at the center of critical policy conversations shaping our climate future.

The Outreach Specialist works exclusively with the Task Force, a global network of premier research institutions developing practical policy solutions at the intersection of climate and development finance. Under the supervision of the Task Force’s Research Director, the Outreach Specialist enhances the Task Force’s external visibility, builds stronger connections with member institutions and international stakeholders, and drives strategic coordination to ensure member activities support the Task Force’s overall mission and goals.

The position operates through a clear division of responsibilities with related GEGI teams. While the GEGI Program Management Office focuses on internal operations and program execution, the Outreach Specialist concentrates on external-facing engagement with member institutes and key stakeholders. The Outreach Specialist works in coordination with the GDP Center’s Communications Team on strategic communications and branding strategies and collaborates with the GEGI Policy Liaison to ensure Task Force activities are integrated into the Center’s broader policy discourse.

Key Responsibilities

Support the Research Director in cultivating and maintaining relationships with member institutes of the Task Force, members of international organizations, government representatives, research networks, and other key external stakeholders.
Monitor international policy developments and high-level meetings relevant to the Task Force’s mission (e.g., IMF/World Bank Meetings, COP processes, G20, UNFCCC).
Identify and recommend opportunities for Task Force participation in relevant global dialogues, events, or consultations, in alignment with GEGI’s broader policy engagement strategy.
Coordinate externally with Task Force partners on all logistics and planning for meetings, convenings, roundtables, and policy events ensuring seamless execution, timely communication, and a high-quality participant experience (e.g., schedule meetings, draft and circulate agendas, build the program for convenings, etc.)
Contribute to content development, messaging, and timing of outreach related to the Task Force, in consultation with the Research Director, the GDP Center’s Policy Liaison, and the GDP Center Communications Team to ensure consistency, accuracy, and alignment across and the GDP Center’s broader policy engagement portfolio and communication strategy.
Prepare Task Force briefing materials, talking points, outreach summaries, presentation decks for external engagements and global events.
Coordinate with partner institutes’ communications teams to align messaging, branding, and dissemination activities across the Task Force consortium.
Draft concise policy briefs, background notes, and blog posts that communicate Task Force insights and amplify research contributions from partner institutes.
Coordinate the production of Task Force reports from start to finish, working closely with the GDP Center Communications team to ensure alignment in tone, framing, style, and editing, as well as graphic layout, promotion, outreach strategy, and scheduling. Work collaboratively with the GDP Center Communications team on the design, roll-out, and amplification of communications campaigns for Task Force reports and events, ensuring consistency with Center-wide visual and editorial standards.
Collaborate closely with the GDP Center Communications team and the GEGI Policy Liaison to plan and execute outreach efforts related to Task Force publications, events, and policy milestones.
Coordinate closely with the GEGI Program Management Team to monitor project timelines, budgets, and deliverables, proactively identifying and resolving bottlenecks to keep initiatives on track.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in international relations, public policy, economics, environmental studies, or a related field.
Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in strategic outreach engagement ideally in an international or research setting.
Demonstrated experience working with diverse partners or institutions across countries and time zones, including ability to travel and participate in virtual and in person meetings/events that may take place outside of normal business hours.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex research into accessible narratives for policy and public audiences.
Strong organizational and interpersonal skills with a collaborative mindset.
Familiarity with global development, climate finance, and international financial institutions.
Ability to travel internationally.
Availability to attend virtual meetings outside of normal business hours.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant field.
Experience in policy research, think tanks, or multilateral organizations.
Experience producing short analyses, op-eds, or communications materials on climate and development topics.
Basic design or content production skills (Canva, Adobe Suite, or similar).

This is an in-person role at Boston University. Must be able to start on February 1, 2026. This is a benefits-eligible position. Salary range: $67,500 to $73,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Please apply by January 12, 2026. Please send your resume and cover letter to gdpadmin@bu.edu.

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, Global Economic Governance Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center seeks an Academic Researcher with a strong background in global development policy for our Global Economic Governance Initiative (GEGI).

GEGI advances policy-oriented research to align global economic governance with development and climate ambitions and deliver green and inclusive prosperity. Within GEGI, research is conducted across three thematic programs: climate and development finance, financial stability, and trade and investment rules. GEGI also focuses on emerging and cross-cutting challenges such as just transitions, the sovereign debt crisis and climate change.

GEGI is seeking an Academic Researcher with a background in development economics or studies, international economics, environment/climate economics, and international political economy related to:

1. Development finance and development banks;

2. The political economy of development finance institutions; and

3. The economic and social dimensions of the green transition and climate resilience.

The Academic Researcher is expected to lead and oversee ongoing research efforts, guide, plan and execute future research projects and pursue independent research in one or more of the priority areas of GEGI. In addition to leading these research efforts, the Academic Researcher will routinely engage with policymakers and civil society organizations to advance GEGI’s policy-oriented research findings.

This is an in-person position at the GDP Center’s Boston office.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in public policy, engineering, economics, political science, political economy or related disciplines with a strong background in global development or international organizations. PhD preferred.
The candidate must have strong methodological skills. Quantitative skills and expertise in Excel, R, Stata, or Python would be an asset. Research experience involving mixed methods is a plus.
Well-versed with ongoing policy discussions and debates on global economic governance and preferably a growing track record of thought leadership and policy engagement.
Track record of engaging with collaborators based in the global south and experience with research management.
A strong research interest and proven track record in the GEGI focus areas, including a firm grasp of policy discussions and debates.

Boston University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and life insurance; retirement savings plans with matching contributions; generous paid time off and holidays; tuition remission for employees and eligible family members; wellness programs; transportation and commuting benefits; access to backup childcare and an on-site children’s center; and statutory protections such as Workers’ Compensation and Social Security contributions.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to gegi@bu.edu with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GEGI Academic Researcher>>

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER/SENIOR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, Energy and Climate, Global China Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center seeks an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher to lead our Energy and Climate work stream at the Global China Initiative (GCI). GCI advances policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions to enable financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Within GCI, research is conducted across four programs: Energy and Climate, Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights (FAIR), China and the International Financial Architecture (CHIFA), and Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.).

Specifically, the mission of the energy and climate team is to produce policy oriented, evidence based and theoretical driven research to decarbonize Chinese overseas economic activity; accelerate inclusive low-carbon and facilitate green structural transformation in developing countries. An ideal candidate must have a strong background in energy and climate research with regards to Chinese overseas engagement, particularly in the following areas:

China’s role in just energy transition in developing countries;
Composition and impacts of China’s overseas energy projects;
Political and economic factors determining energy choices by China and countries that borrow or receive financing from China.

The primary responsibilities of the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher include:

Conducting peer reviewed rigorous research on topics related to: China’s global energy finance and implications for climate change; the role of development finance in catalyzing energy transition in developing countries; policy proposals for greening China’s overseas economic engagement; and other relevant areas as determined by GCI.
Developing and managing an energy and climate research portfolio in collaboration with by BU faculty members, non-resident scholars, and pre/post docs. This requires a strong ability to identify innovative and strategic questions for policy design and the ability to manage researchers who lead/operationalize the projects.
Engaging with policy makers in China and elsewhere abroad on the policy implications of GCI’s research, as well as engaging in strategic communications through traditional and digital media platforms in English and Chinese.
Leading the planning and execution of research across project life cycle, including conceptualization, data collection and analysis, drafting, revision, journal submission, policy engagement and so on, for both researcher’s own project as well as others under the energy and climate team.
Representing GCI at policy events and conferences to advance our research findings.

This is an in-person position at Boston University.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in public policy, engineering, economics, political science, or related fields; PhD required for the Senior Academic Researcher position.
Track record of high-impact publications on topics related to energy and climate change.
Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills in economics, energy, and finance in general, and knowledge of Chinese economy, climate policy, and overseas engagement.
Interest in global development policy and China’s role in energy transition in developing countries.
Strong writing skills, including technical writing as well as the ability to summarize technical research with a wider audience of media and policymakers.
Demonstrated project and program management experience.
Mandarin language skills required.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to the Global China Initiative Team (gci@bu.edu) with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GCI E&C Researcher>>

ACADEMIC RESEARCHER/SENIOR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER, China and the International Financial Architecture, Global China Initiative

The Boston University Global Development Policy Center seeks an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher with a strong background in China and international financial institutions to lead our China and the International Financial Architecture work stream at the Global China Initiative.

The Global China Initiative (GCI) was founded to advance policy-oriented research on China’s overseas economic activity and engagement with international institutions in order to enable financial stability, human well-being, and environmental sustainability. Within GCI, research is conducted across four programs: Energy and Climate, Forestry, Agriculture and Indigenous Rights in the Belt and Road Initiative (FAIR-BRI), China and the International Financial Architecture, and Data Analysis for Transparency and Accountability (D.A.T.A.). 

GCI is seeking an Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher with a background in China and the International Financial Architecture to lead policy oriented research on:

China and the Global Financial Safety Net;
China and Global Development Finance;
China and the sovereign debt restructuring architecture.

The primary responsibilities of the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher for China and the International Financial Architecture group will be to conduct rigorous and policy-oriented research on topics related to China’s engagement both inside the legacy Bretton Woods institutions and outside through a network of newer bilateral and multilateral institutions that China has joined or co-founded in this century. The Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher will also be the team leader for GCI’s China and the international financial architecture group, synthesizing and managing research across the group and representing the group at internal and external meetings.

In addition to competitive compensation, the Academic Researcher/Senior Academic Researcher will receive funding for data collection, fieldwork, travel to conferences, as well as potentially be eligible for reimbursement for relocation expenses. This is an in-person position at GDP Center’s offices at Boston University.

Qualifications:

Advanced degree in international economics, international political economy, economics, political science, or related fields; PhD preferred.
Working proficiency in Chinese.
Track record of high-impact publications on topics related to China and the international financial architecture.
Interest in global development policy and China’s role in the international financial architecture.
Strong writing skills, including technical writing as well as the ability to summarize technical research with a wider audience of media and policymakers.
Demonstrated project and program management experience.

How to Apply:

Please send a cover letter and CV to the Global China Initiative Team (gci@bu.edu) with the subject line <<First Name Last Name – GCI CHIFA Researcher>>

Page last updated: November 04, 2025.