Economist/ Senior Economist - STARM

Work for the IMF. Work for the World.

The Statistics Department (STA) has an opening for an Economist/Senior Economist to work in the Resource Management Division (STARM).

Background

STA provides global leadership on macroeconomic and financial statistics. Our analytical, policy, and operational work advances the international statistical agenda and contributes to carrying out the IMF’s mandate.

For surveillance and use of Fund resources, STA gathers and analyzes macroeconomic and financial statistics, addressing data gaps and promoting best practices in data dissemination.

STA delivers capacity development (CD) activities to member countries to produce macroeconomic and financial statistics for decision making and to disseminate internationally comparable statistics.

STA plays a critical role in the analytical development and promotion of internationally accepted statistical standards to address the data needs of policy makers.

STARM supports STA’s work program implementation, especially on CD strategy, budgeting and implementation; and also advances the strategic agenda on how to enhance CD efficiency by leveraging experiences of new CD modalities. In addition, STARM leads or contributes to STA and Fund-wide strategic initiatives, such as Results-Based Management (RBM), the Capacity Development Management and Administration Program (CDMAP), and CD evaluations. STARM takes the lead in donor reporting and works closely with ICD on fundraising, which is expected to gain increasing prominence as STA’s flagship multi-donor trust fund (the Data for Decisions Fund) enters a second phase in FY26. STARM would also lead STA’s work on addressing the outcomes of the IMF’s Capacity Development Strategy Review (2024).

Job Description

The successful candidate will be involved in the full breadth of the division’s work to support divisional management and will also work under the direct supervision of the Division Chief.

S/he would be expected to lead or contribute to strategic initiatives within STA, for example, better integration of CD into IMF surveillance; supporting the integration of the RBM framework in CD prioritization and evaluation; promoting the dissemination and publication of TA reports; and streamlining and automating work processes. S/he would also play a lead role in preparing regular reports to donors and reviewing external evaluations of STA’s CD in close coordination with topical divisions, having review responsibility for the work of project officers. S/he would promote the role of STA’s CD in delivering data that is relevant for decision makers and IMF surveillance, including by closely liaising with area departments. In addition, the successful candidate is expected to supervise the work of STARM’s training team, contribute to advancing STA’s strategic priorities (including on communication), and represent STA in IMF-wide working groups.

In these tasks, the successful candidate would be expected to collaborate closely with staff in STA divisions, ICD, other CD-delivering departments and area departments, STA advisors in the field, and national authorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Educational development, including and/or supplemented by work experience, typically acquired through the completion of:

• An advanced degree in macroeconomics, statistics and/or related field, supplemented by a minimum of four years of relevant professional experience is required; OR
• A PhD in macroeconomics, statistics and/or a related field is required.
  
  

In addition to the qualifications set forth in the job standards, experience in policy-oriented economic analysis would be a plus. Very strong oral and written communication and interpersonal skills as well as excellent time management skills are essential to smoothly manage the various tasks that often require intense coordination with several players. The position requires intellectual curiosity to explore new subjects and a capacity to innovate, complemented by strong skills in data analysis and the ability to draft concisely and persuasively.

Experience with IMF CD or statistical methodology would be a plus.

The position requires no travel.

This vacancy shall be filled by a 3-year Term appointment in accordance with the Fund’s new employment rules that took effect on May 1, 2015.

A regular staff member who is selected to fill the vacancy will maintain their open-ended status. If the selected candidate is a contractual employee, they will be offered a Term staff appointment. Staff members already on a term appointment will continue their current term but may receive an extension provided that their current term appointment has not already been extended.

It is expected that while the position is advertised at the full grade band, it will be filled at the higher level.

Department:

STARM Statistics Department Resource Management Division

Hiring For:

A11, A12, A13, A14

The IMF is committed to achieving a diverse staff, including age, creed, culture, disability, educational background, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, nationality, race, religion and beliefs, and sexual orientation. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process.