The Regional Strategy and Analytics Division (RSD) of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia (MCD) Department plays a central role in delivering the Department's cross-country analytical products, including the Regional Economic Outlook, briefing materials for senior management, internal and external presentations, and broader analytical and outreach products. This work relies on high-quality economic data, robust cross-country databases, efficient production workflows, and clear presentation of economic analysis in formats consistent with Fund standards.

MCD has an opening for a Research Analyst/Senior Research Analyst in RSD. The selected candidate will be responsible for:

• Constructing and managing comprehensive economic and financial country and cross-country databases and helping to maintain a sophisticated macro framework;
• designing and executing and analyzing computer programs and macros for statistical and econometric analysis;
• accessing and utilizing macroeconomic and financial market data from a wide range of sources, performing computations including programming complex data calculation and validation procedures and preparing tables and charts, including for use in external publications;
• producing charts, tables, dashboards, and presentation materials for regional surveillance, senior management briefings, and external outreach, ensuring consistency with Fund templates, formatting standards, and quality expectations;
• establishing and maintaining fully documented country and cross-country data files;
• assisting with onboarding, mentoring and training junior Research Analysts and liaising with other Research Analysts/Officers within the department,
• problem solving and database creation;
• providing in-house advice on data management solutions, software, and programming to economists within the division;
• back up the other research analyst in the division;
• if the work program allows, the selected candidate may also have the opportunity to participate in analytical work performed by the team.

Qualifications

In addition to the qualifications set forth in the job standards, the selected candidate must possess:

Educational development, typically acquired by the completion of a university degree, or equivalent, in economics, finance, statistics, computer science, or a related field of study is required.

Working knowledge of macroeconomic relationships, statistical concepts, and econometric techniques programs (E-Views, Stata, Python and R), as well as strong analytical and computer skills, including advanced skills in the use of, Microsoft Office Excel (including with Macros/VBA), SharePoint, and PowerBI as well as Fund's data management platforms such as DMXe, EcOS, iData.

Familiarity with the economies of the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and/or the Caucasus and Central Asia would be an advantage.

Sound understanding of Fund and other databases, computer systems capabilities and Fund data management practices; familiarity working on nonstandard data sets and nowcasting would be an advantage.

Experience with gathering and processing cross-country economic and financial data; strong familiarity with financial data tools and platforms such as Bloomberg, and DataStream.

Experience supporting the production of high-quality charts, tables, presentations, or publications in a policy, research, or international organization setting would be an asset.

The candidate should also demonstrate strong attention to detail, teamwork, sound judgment, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks, establish priorities, meet tight deadlines, and remain flexible under pressure.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to interact effectively with staff at all levels and in different areas of the Fund.

Only candidates who are currently residing in the Washington DC metro area will be considered.

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.

This term position, while extendable for up to 3 years, is not viable for consideration for an open-ended appointment.

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.

Department:
MCDRS Middle East and Central Asia Dept Regional Analytics & Strategy Div.

Hiring For:
A06, A07, A08