Economist

Applications are solicited for the position of (Senior/Lead) Economist at the Joint Vienna Institute (JVI), Vienna, Austria. The JVI—an international organization—is a regional training center created in 1992 by Austria, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and several other international organizations. The JVI’s objective is to train public sector officials from countries in Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Iran and Türkiye. Drawing on its longstanding partnerships and the expertise of its member organizations, the JVI offers a unique set of courses, seminars, and workshops covering a broad range of economic issues.

Job Summary

The JVI has a faculty of seven economists with different backgrounds, specializations and seniority levels. Under the supervision of the JVI Deputy Director, the Economist will be involved in teaching, curriculum development and other JVI-related activities, including economic research. The position involves frequent cooperation and coordination with staff from the IMF, the Austrian Authorities and other JVI partner organizations.

The current opening would be particularly well suited to a macroeconomist, ideally complemented with knowledge of macroeconomic frameworks for forecasting and policy analysis.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate’s duties include the following:

• Teaching: Teaching and coordinating training courses in the areas of macroeconomic policy (delivered in classroom, virtually, or in hybrid form), often in conjunction with the IMF, the Austrian Authorities, and/or other partner organizations.
• Curriculum development: Continuous review of the curriculum, as well as development of new JVI-sponsored courses in collaboration with the IMF, the Austrian Authorities, and other partner organizations.
• Research: Conducting analytical work on economic issues relevant to the JVI’s training mandate and, participating in external conferences and seminars.
• Technical assistance: Depending on prior experience, potentially engaging in technical assistance projects for the IMF or other organizations.
• Other: Organizing webinars and other events; engagement in internal working groups and outreach activities; also, depending on experience, guiding and mentoring more junior colleagues.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical skills and at least three years of practical experience in analyzing financial and macroeconomic issues and/or providing policy advice in these areas.
• Strong teaching record, especially in the area of applied macroeconomics and economic policies; ability to teach in the areas of finance and econometrics would be a plus;
• Ph.D./Ph.D. candidate in economics and a demonstrated ability to conduct high-quality research would be an asset.
• Strong interpersonal skills, initiative, and ability to work effectively in teams.
• Strong drafting and reviewing skills.
• A solid knowledge of statistical and econometric techniques and related software, including Stata; familiarity with MATLAB, R, and/or Python would be a plus.
• Fluency in English is required.

Salary and Benefits Package

This fixed-term position is full-time, initially for two years with the possibility of renewal, and carries a competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. IMF staff would need to take leave without pay for the duration of the assignment. JVI staff members are exempt from national immigration restrictions.

The JVI is committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive staff, including gender, nationality, culture, and social background.

The closing date for applications is Friday, October 25, 2024. It is expected that the successful applicant will take up the post in April 2025 or shortly thereafter.