Position applied for: Senior economist
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Job Profile
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Senior Economist
Custom Research
London
Phil Todd
May 2011
Summary purpose of job
The Senior Economist will work with the Regional Custom Research Director and the rest of the
research team to grow our custom research across the region and econometric modelling business
worldwide.
The Senior Economist will manage a number of client projects, providing their own research input as
well as managing contributions from inside the Economist Intelligence Unit and from external
researchers. This will include working with the sales team to promote our research capabilities,
working directly with clients to define and deliver their requirements as well as project management
responsibility for single client and multi-client research projects being delivered for clients.
The role will also involve working with the Economics Unit to support the design and implementation of
bespoke econometric models and forecasts. This will require working with data providers, clients and
EIU teams worldwide.
Specific responsibilities
1. Business development
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Work with the Custom Research sales team and editorial colleagues in the region to prepare
scoping documents and proposals for potential clients, meet with customers, help to interpret
their research requirements and design research methodologies.
Help identify new areas of business for custom research, based on our skills and experience
in benchmarking, market sizing, market entry and validation, political and economic analysis,
risk assessment, and economic modeling and forecasting.
Assist in training sales and editorial colleagues in the demonstration of our capabilities to
clients.
2. Project delivery
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Deliver research inputs and report preparation to client projects, including economic analysis,
forecasting models, benchmarking models, data collection, interpretation, analysis and
presentations.
Directly manage individual research projects, dealing with all aspects of project delivery such
as writing, editing, cost control, client relations and contributor management.
Present interim project status and final project deliverables to clients
3. Capacity building
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Develop methods and approaches for research that will help to scale up the Custom Research
business and to ensure consistent quality of output.
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Work with the Economics Unit, Country Analysts and other parts of the Economist Intelligence
Unit to secure their input to custom research projects and their support in product
development.
Help build and manage a network of external contributors to be employed in delivering
Custom Research projects.
4. Econometrics
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Econometric modeling and forecasting
Work with EIU teams worldwide to design, develop and deliver econometric models and
forecasts for clients. Assess the output from the models and check the plausibility and
defensibility of the forecasts, as well as consistency with any written analysis. Recommend
changes to the forecasting methodology to ensure the accuracy, reliability and consistency of
the economic forecasts.
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Data suppliers
Work closely with data suppliers to make sure the economic data used in models and
forecasts is the best available. Monitor changes in relevant external data sources and work
closely with suppliers to enhance the quality of EIU data.
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Team work
Actively join in discussions on modeling methods. Participate in the development of
departmental econometric expertise.
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Client relationships
Present the forecast results and models in non-technical language to clients and respond to
client queries in relation to work undertaken for clients.
Performance measures
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Excellent editorial quality
Quality of forecasts and models (based on track record)
Delivery of research projects to strict deadlines and within budget
Generation of repeat business from satisfied clients
Maintenance of effective relationships with other parts of the Economist Intelligence Unit,
including Sales, Country Analysis, Thought Leadership, and Economics Unit
Skills and capabilities profile
Education and training
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Previous work experience
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Relevant degree in Economics, International Relations or related
subject
Masters or PhD in Economics (with large weight in applied
econometrics)
Must have developed industry-standard econometric forecasting
frameworks and be able to develop best practice single-equation OLS
forecasting models from scratch
Experience with running structural economic models and other
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Knowledge
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IT
Languages
Personal attributes and
skills
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econometric frameworks such as VAR models an advantage
Client management experience
Staff and/or vendor management experience
Experience dealing with and presenting to senior-level executives
Solid work experience, preferably in economics or research discipline
Excellent economics, statistical, research and writing skills
Good understanding of international business, industry and
geopolitical issues, and in writing political and economic analysis for a
business audience
Detailed knowledge of applied econometric modeling
Ability to run diagnostics and testing to ensure model properties
Knowledge of a main econometric package required and experience
with a model solution software desired
Knowledge in programming languages an advantage
Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Access
Excellent English
Business-level fluency in other languages an advantage
Very organised with an outstanding project management track record
Good communication and presentation skills
Comfortable and articulate with both clients and the sales force
Confidence and diplomatic skills to handle unfamiliar topics and
challenging clients
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to
express complex ideas using non-technical language
Willingness to travel
Mature, enthusiastic self-starter with the discernment to balance
commercial considerations with high standards of editorial integrity
and analytical capability
Capable of working on complex projects under tight time frames
Thorough awareness of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s brand
values, notably editorial independence
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