The Center for Global Development (CGD) is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit policy research organization in Washington, DC, and London, UK that focuses on the issues and institutions critical to inclusive development. The Market Shaping Accelerator (MSA), housed at CGD, aims to catalyze the development of advance market commitments and other market shaping mechanisms to incentivize innovations addressing pressing global challenges, including global health, pandemic preparedness, climate, AI safety, and drug repurposing.
MSA seeks an experienced, self-directed policy professional with a strong foundation in microeconomics to help design workable pull mechanisms, such as Advance Market Commitments, and drive their adoption by governments, multilateral institutions, and philanthropies. The Policy Fellow will be a thought partner to the MSA directors, bringing practical judgment about institutional constraints, stakeholder incentives, and what it takes to move an idea into implementation. The role reports to the MSA Director and works across projects with many members of the MSA team.
Responsibilities:
- Lead policy workstreams from idea development through engagement and follow-through, including topic areas such as at-risk financing.
- Develop strategies for policy adoption: identify decision-makers and potential champions, understand institutional priorities and decision processes, and recommend where and how MSA leadership should engage.
- Build and manage relationships with government officials, World Bank and other multilateral colleagues, philanthropies, researchers, and other stakeholders.
- Help policymakers assess when pull mechanisms are appropriate and select suitable funding approaches.
- Write clear, persuasive policy memos, briefing materials, blogs and proposals that translate economic reasoning and evidence into actionable recommendations.
- Review MSA proposals and outputs for economic logic and policy relevance.
- Contribute to policy debates on the economics of market shaping and innovation.
- Identify and pursue new opportunities for market shaping.
Required qualifications:
- Master's degree in economics, public policy, or a related field, with a strong foundation in microeconomic theory.
- 12 or more years of relevant experience.
- Excellent analytical economics writing and communication skills, including policy-relevant analysis for nonacademic audiences.
- Ability to apply economic reasoning to real policy choices and engage with economists on incentives, market failures, and policy design.
- Substantial experience in policy practice or applied research engaging policymakers or institutions.
- A record of independently leading complex work and exercising sound judgment under uncertainty.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and credibility with senior policy counterparts and researchers.
- Interest in using market shaping to address global health, pandemic preparedness, climate change, or international development challenges.
Desirable: experience working with governments, the World Bank or other multilateral development banks; contributing to policy adoption or implementation; managing junior staff.
Salary range: $130,000 - $150,000 per annum. Hybrid work, at least three days per week in the office. CGD will sponsor US work authorization for this position.
Closing date: 2026-12-01
HOW TO APPLY:
Submit your application through the CGD online application portal with (1) a cover letter, (2) CV, (3) transcripts from your most recent educational institution (unofficial is fine), and (4) a writing sample (<10 pages) that demonstrates your ability to write for policy audiences. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; the position closes December 1st, 2026, at 11:59 ET. Candidates must be able to declare a primary residence in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
https://centerforglobaldevelopment.applytojob.com/apply/P4s4wWPxHN/Policy-Fellow-Market-Shaping-Accelerator