Senior Economist

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation comprised of 38 member countries, that works to build better policies for better lives. Our mission is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world.  Together with governments, policy makers and citizens, we work on establishing evidence-based international standards, and finding solutions to a range of social, economic and environmental challenges. From improving economic performance and creating jobs to fostering strong education and fighting international tax evasion, we provide a unique forum and knowledge hub for data and analysis, exchange of experiences, best-practice sharing, and advice on public policies and international standard-setting.

The Economics Department aims at enhancing economic performance in Member and non-Member countries through sound and innovative policy advice with a view to seeking an inclusive and durable increase in living standards. It deals with a wide array of policy areas combining macro-economic management, with a strong emphasis on structural policy issues to address policy objectives covering material well-being, social concerns and green aspirations. Its policy advice is derived from a variety of sources such as country surveillance, cross-country benchmarking and evidence derived from empirical research. Much of the Economics Department’s policy analysis and advice is provided as input to committee-based peer review and multilateral surveillance processes and contributes to the overall OECD mission. The Economics Department interacts with several other OECD directorates working in specific policy fields.

The Economics Department of the OECD currently employs approximately 170 staff members who support work across a broad range of economic policy areas to ensure impact of the OECD economic policy work in the international governance architecture.

The Economics Department is launching a recruitment campaign for Senior Economists to identify candidates for ongoing needs for the Department.  Several positions will be opened with a focus varying from  structural and macroeconomic projects of a cross-country nature to country analysis. The work entails economic and econometric analyses and drafting papers about diverse policy issues covered by the Economics Department. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of a Head of Division. S/he will be expected to interact with a broad array of stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organisations, other international organisations and academics and of course other OECD Directorates.

Main Responsibilities

Policy analysis, supervision and co-ordination

• Supervise and co-ordinate policy-relevant analysis for the Committees served by the Department as well as, in some cases, other committees. The topics covered will vary through time according to the Programme of Work defined by the Committees, and may cover both structural and macro-economic issues, in the short or medium term, related to OECD member countries, as well as major non-member economies.  The work should lead to the formulation of policy recommendations, underpinned by sound economic theory and empirical analysis.
• Contribute to the process of structural surveillance of member countries, and non-member economies' policies by the Committees served by the Economics Department. 
• Identify areas in which empirical work is necessary and provide supervision and guidance at the technical level to economists involved in this work. 

Drafting and analysis

• Draft analytic documents and papers on current economic policy issues, for consideration by Committees and/or Working Parties, or for publication. 
• Draft reports and articles summarising empirical knowledge, recent economic developments or policy issues, either for inclusion in the Department's documentation (Economic Surveys, Working Papers, the Economic Outlook, Going for Growth and Policy papers) or for briefing senior officials.
• Undertake ad-hoc and innovative analyses that contribute to the Organisation's understanding and capacity to comment on structural and macro-economic issues.

Horizontal work

• Participate in the general work of the Department, including scrutinising papers in preparation for Economic Policy Committee (EPC) and its Working Parties, elaboration of medium-term scenarios, disseminating information on significant developments in the subjects or countries concerned, commenting on and making suggestions for model development and other quantitative and statistical work.  
• Undertake peer reviews of work produced elsewhere in the Department.
• Actively seek out and participate in cross-directorate horizontal projects.

Liaison and outreach

• Foster collaboration among the relevant policy communities both within and external to the Economics Department. Seek  synergies with other directorates of the OECD.
• Maintain contacts with senior officials in national Administrations, other international organisations, and country Delegations. 
• Represent the OECD at outside meetings, as necessary.  Participate in missions to member and non member countries including with the Secretary-General and the Chief Economist.
• Respond to enquiries from Delegations, journalists and the general public. 
• Contribute to an effective communication strategy of the Department’s outputs by taking an active role in the dissemination of his/her work, including through media interviews and other communication events. 

Team and budget management

• Supervise the work of at least one economist, research assistants, secretarial support staff and, on occasion, trainees and  external consultants.
• Manage projects involving teams of professional economists and research assistants. 
• Participate in recruitment activities.
• Contribute to the management of financial resources under the responsibility of the Division and mobilise additional sources of financing to support the work programme of the Economics Department.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Academic Background

• An advanced university degree in economics or macroeconomics or related field. 

Professional Background

• At least eight years' experience in applied economic analysis, policy advice and structural issues of OECD economies or some emerging economies.
• Experience in economic policy analysis acquired in an international organisation, government ministry, academia, relevant private sector organisations, NGO, think tank  or similar.
• Proven experience in managing teams of economists and research assistants.
• Ability to synthesise complex results and present them to a non-specialist audience.

Tools

• Sound knowledge of macroeconomics, applied microeconomics and quantitative tools (such as econometrics or economic modelling).

Languages

• Fluency in one of the two OECD official languages (English and French) and knowledge of the other, with a commitment to reach a good working level.
• Knowledge of other languages would be an asset.

Core Competencies

• For this role, the following competencies would be particularly important\: Analytical thinking, Drafting skills, Flexible thinking, Teamwork and Team leadership, Diplomatic sensitivity.

Please refer to the level 4 indicators of the OECD Core Competencies.

Contract Duration

• One to three years fixed term appointments, with possibility of renewal.

What the OECD offers

• Monthly base salary starting from 9 567 EUR, plus allowances based on eligibility, exempt of French income tax.
• Please note, the appointment may be made at a lower grade based on the qualifications and professional experience of the selected applicant.
• Click here to learn more about what we offer and why the OECD is a great place to work.
• Click here to browse our People Management Guidebook and learn more about all aspects relating to people at the OECD, our workplace environment and many other policies supporting staff in their daily life.

Short-listed candidates may be asked to take a self recorded video interview and a written test as part of the recruitment process. The successful candidates will be placed in a pool of candidates and will be considered for employment for a period of up to two years.

The OECD is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes the applications of all qualified candidates who are nationals of OECD member countries, irrespective of their racial or ethnic origin, opinions or beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, health or disabilities.

The OECD promotes an optimal use of resources in order to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Staff members are encouraged to actively contribute to this goal.