Senior Economist

The Senior Economist will lead analytical work covering China and other selected countries in East Asia, providing diagnostics and advisory services to support IFC's mission of mobilizing private investments and improving business environments. The role involves economic and market assessments, policy advice, coordination with World Bank Group teams, and mentoring junior staff.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to business development by providing investment and advisory teams with customized, up-to-date research including country economic and market updates, regional-global trend assessments, and sectoral analysis.
• Identify and develop real-time analytics to help identify market opportunities and shape business strategies in the region.
• Provide timely and quality input to IFC investment projects on country/regional context, macro/market analysis, policy issues, strategic fit, key risks, and other analysis during the full project life cycle, especially on high-risk projects.
• Provide analytical support and advice to CEAAE project teams to identify and deliver actionable reforms that open private sector opportunities and support IFC industries.
• Serve as focal point for WBG coordination and collaboration, including co-leading preparation of country engagement products, coordinating analytical tasks, contributing to policy dialogue and lending programs, and reviewing/supporting WBG analytics and operations.
• Lead preparation of Country Private Sector Diagnostics (CPSDs), coordinating with colleagues and counterparts to select strategic sectors, design and lead data collection and analysis, and identify/develop deep dives.
• Work closely with the Knowledge Bank to coordinate diagnostics, jointly develop flagship studies, and ensure consistent WBG positions on global/country/market issues and trends.
• Provide front-office support to the Regional Director and Vice-President of the Asia Region including preparing analytics and updates on countries’ economies and selected markets, and preparing briefing and talking points for key meetings and events.
• Facilitate consultations with various stakeholders including development finance institutions, civil society, and enterprise sector.
• Mentor junior colleagues and provide quality control of strategic and analytical work, as well as operational projects.

Requirements

• PhD or master’s degree in economics with at least 12 years of relevant professional experience.
• A track record of excellence in research and analytics, including published research.
• Proven expertise in both macro- and micro-level issues; including macroeconomic diagnostics, public sector analysis, private sector policies, market issues, private sector diagnostics and/or sector/market analysis.
• Expertise in China economy and in a specific thematic area (private sector regulations, climate policies, etc.) and sector (finance, infrastructure, etc.) considered a plus.
• Experience with economic models, financial models, or econometrics approaches is desirable.
• Ability to understand how macroeconomic frameworks and trends at global/regional/country level impact micro-level financial flows, private investments, and sector/market risks/opportunities.
• Ability to translate economic and policy analysis into country and sector strategies/programs/reforms.
• Experience with policy dialogue, lending operations (including policy-based and investment lending) and delivering programs and solutions to clients.
• Experience in leading/contributing to WBG analytical work such as CPFs, CPSDs, and CCDRs considered a plus.
• Strong writing skills, including ability to write quickly and concisely on a variety of topics in a well-structured manner.
• Strong communication skills, including ability to interact with internal stakeholders within the WBG and IFC’s client countries, and participate in programs/initiatives in collaboration with WB/MIGA/external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively as a team leader and member, build and maintain relationships, manage junior staff, and maintain collaborative relationships with stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work flexibly on a range of assignments, adjust to changes in schedule and priorities, and juggle concurrent tasks effectively and efficiently.

Skills

• Macroeconomic Diagnostics
• Microeconomic Policy Analysis
• Public Sector Analysis
• Private Sector Policies
• Market Analysis
• Economic Research
• Econometric Modelling
• Financial Modeling
• Macroeconomic Statistics Frameworks
• Policy Analysis
• Country Strategy Development
• Sector Strategy Development
• Policy Dialogue
• Lending Operations Design
• Investment Lending
• Analytical Report Production
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Team Leadership
• Project Management
• Economic Advisory Services

Languages

English