Economist/Senior Economist (Specialist - Trade) - SPRXP
Work on macro-critical trade and trade policy issues, advising senior staff and country teams.
Overview
Work on macro-critical trade and trade policy issues, advising senior staff and country teams.
You have:
- Completion of a doctorate degree in Economics, Finance, or a related field of study or equivalent.
- Advanced university degree in Economics, Finance, or a related field of study, or equivalent, plus a minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience.
- Relevant work experience in trade issues gained in government, international organizations, or academia.
- Strong analytical skills and knowledge of international trade and trade policy, as shown by a publication record.
- Strong knowledge of major trade policy issues facing member countries and regions, including specialized knowledge of the WTO and ongoing WTO negotiations.
- Ability to think creatively; excellent written and oral communication skills; and the capacity to execute multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cooperate and communicate effectively with staff across and outside the department and institution.
Work for the IMF. Work for the World.
The External Policy Division (XP) of the IMF Strategy, Policy, and Review Department (SPR) has an opening for a Trade Economist. The XP Division coordinates SPR's work on exchange rates and international capital flow issues and leads IMF-wide work on global trade policy issues and WTO relations. The division’s trade policy work has three broad functions:
- Providing in-house advice and expertise on trade policy matters, including implications of trade developments for the global economy. This role includes briefing the IMF Executive Board on major trade policy issues and their macroeconomic implications, advising IMF Management and senior staff, and preparing or maintaining high-level talking points and background briefings.
- Support IMF country teams in their engagement with member authorities. This role includes developing and maintaining policy guidance, reviewing country documents, advising country teams, and leading or participating in trade discussions with country authorities.
- Policy analysis and development. As part of the IMF’s voice in global economic debates, this role includes bringing rigorous contributions on trade policy and related macroeconomic issues to high-level policy audiences, including in the G-20 and other international fora. This role is often exercised in partnership with the WTO and other International Organizations such as the OECD, and by joint work with other IMF departments.
Duties and responsibilities:
The selected candidate will primarily work on macro-critical trade and trade policy issues, focusing interchangeably on contributing to the policy and operational work of the division and developing an analytical agenda. The position will also involve advising senior staff and country teams/mission chiefs, including through the review process, and contributing to a broad range of divisional responsibilities in the other areas of work.
Qualifications:
Educational development, typically acquired through the completion of a doctorate degree in Economics, Finance, or a related field of study or equivalent, and/or supplemented by work experience, typically acquired through the completion of considerable graduate work in Economic; alternatively, an advanced university degree in Economics, Finance, or a related field of study, or equivalent, plus a minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience is required. The ideal candidate should have relevant work experience in trade issues gained in government, international organizations or academia; strong analytical skills and knowledge of international trade and trade policy as shown by a publication record; strong knowledge of major trade policy issues facing member countries and regions, including specialized knowledge of the WTO and ongoing WTO negotiations, and the interface between trade policy and related areas like Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), climate regulation, industrial policy, and digitalization; sound policy judgment; ability to think creatively; excellent written and oral communication skills; and the capacity to execute multiple tasks under tight deadlines. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to cooperate and communicate effectively with staff across and outside the department and institution are also important.
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.
This vacancy shall be filled by a 3-year Term appointment.
It is expected that while the position is advertised at the full grade band, it will be filled at the lower level.
All applicants are expected to include a Statement of Interest as an attachment to the application, which may be used in the screening process for this vacancy.
Department:
SPRXP Strategy, Policy, and Review Dept. External Policy DivisionHiring For:
A11, A12, A13, A14The IMF is guided by the principle that the employment, classification, promotion, and assignment of staff shall be made without discrimination against any person. We welcome requests for reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process. Information on how to request accommodations will be provided during the application process.
Potential interview questions
| Describe a time when you had to analyze complex trade policy issues. What was the outcome? | The interviewer wants to assess your analytical and problem-solving skills relevant to trade policy. | Provide a clear example demonstrating your analytical approach and the impact of your solution. |
| How do you prioritize tasks when working under tight deadlines? | This question evaluates your time management and ability to handle pressure. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Can you give an example of how you have communicated complex information to non-experts? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Discuss a successful collaboration you had with other departments or organizations. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| What major trade policy issue do you think will impact the global economy in the next few years? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Share an experience where you had to balance competing priorities in a project. How did you handle it? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| Describe your approach to staying updated on trade policy and economic trends. | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |
| How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a trade policy advice you provide? | Pro members can see the explanation. | Pro members can see the explanation. |