Senior Economist – P5

Please note the appropriate Tier indicated in the vacancy title and ensure that you are holding the applicable contract as defined below:

• Tier 1: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed term (FTA) appointments (defined as “internal” candidates)
• Tier 2: UNDP/ UNCDF/ UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA) and personnel on regular PSA contracts
• Tier 3: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Background

The key goals of Vision 2030 are the diversification of the economy and transitioning from primarily relying on the oil sector to focusing on other industries such as tourism. As such, economic reforms have been introduced to enhance the quality, digitization, and efficiency of services for the private sector as well as fostering a supportive business environment. Among the plan’s goals is to increase the private sector’s contribution to the GDP to 65%, small businesses to 35% and increasing the contribution of nonoil exports to 50%. Such efforts have proven successful as nonoil revenues have doubled in four years.

The primary role of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is to support country-led efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The work of UNDP in 170 countries around the world is anchored in diverse and effective partnerships, which are vital to our two critical roles at country level: (a) as an integrator across policy, programmatic and organizational silos; and (b) as an operational backbone for the United Nations and other partners. UNDP’s experience with the private sector spans across a number of areas including SDG impact management and measurement; inclusive business & value chains; and transition to low-carbon economies.

Position Purpose

The Macroeconomist will provide specialized economic analysis and policy advisory support to facilitate Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiatives and sustainable development objectives. The role involves assessing macroeconomic trends, advising on economic reforms, and supporting capacity building within government institutions to promote economic diversification, stability, and inclusive growth. By aligning macroeconomic strategies with national development priorities, the macroeconomist will contribute to fostering resilient, sustainable, and equitable economic progress in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with UNDP’s efforts to support sustainable transformation and social development.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizonal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.) Lead policy advice and support UNDP and CO management, programmes and projects on economic and development issues:

• Perform independent research and ensure the quality of various applied analytical studies, including planning and organizing studies to support the formulation of new economic development policies, strategies and instruments.
• Provide analysis and research on priority thematic areas relevant to the development context in Saudi Arabia to inform policy making, including through the publication of policy briefs or other analytical outputs.
• Compile, analyze and interpret macroeconomic and statistical data through research of the macroeconomic and development issues in the country, and producing relevant reports aimed at promoting inclusive growth and human development.
• Assess the country’s macroeconomic policies and their impact on poverty reduction, inclusive growth, equity, and SDGs.

2.) Lead policy advice to Government counterparts and knowledge management on economic and development issues:

• Lead the preparation of top-quality analyses on (green and digital) economic transformation, productivity, comparative advantage, regional integration, trade, and suggested fiscal and industrial policy reforms.
• Lead preparation of an updated country-wide Social Accounting Matrix connected to the available SDG indicators.
• Prepare simulations using Computable General Equilibrium CGE modeling techniques on specific policy reforms estimating impacts on key macroeconomic and SDG variables.
• Provide policy and programming advice and support for development planning and policy formulation at the national, sub-national and local level
• Coordinate and launch economic reports, including support to the production of a National Human Development Report where applicable.
• Lead the pilot preparation of a new Social Accountability Matrix (SAM) for selected regions of KSA.
• Provide training and capacity building support for UNDP staff, Government officials and public institutions on economic and development issues.

3.) Build strategic partnerships, feed into programme design and implementation of the Country Programme Document:

• Support and facilitate dialogues on the role of macroeconomic policies addressing sustainable development issues within the Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP), as well as with relevant national partners.
• Provide authoritative advice on possible areas for UNDP support and adjustment of UNDP-MEP Umbrella Programme to ensure that the Programme is in line with national policies and priorities including Saudi Vision 2030, National Transformation Programme, and the SDGs.
• Select strategic macroeconomic research topics, surveys and/or case studies as agreed between MEP and UNDP.
• Identify and analyze interventions that can simultaneously impact multiple development goals and targets.

4.) Promote awareness and facilitate advocacy for UNDP’s mandate and mission:

• Contribute to the establishment of the UNDP Policy Center on Sustainability and Human Development through drafting relevant proposals and concept notes; engaging in discussions to position UNDP strategically in this discourse; and making necessary follow up actions with relevant stakeholders.
• Advocate UNDP’s offers with relevance to the Ministry’s role such as green and digital economy, and circular economy for the SDGs
• Contribute to policy advocacy for Human Development and inclusive sustainable economic growth by participating in relevant forums, conferences and trainings.
• Produce high quality research papers for UNDP presentation at national and international workshops and conferences.
• Produce blogs, op-eds, articles, etc on development issues and UNDP Programmes and projects activities.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: This role will be responsible for supervising consultants; and therefore, requires demonstration of UNDP People Management competencies.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Direction and Strategy-System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Management-Portfolio Management: Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment

Business Management & Results-based Management: Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes, and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.

Business Direction Strategy & Futures and Foresight:

• Ability to look at information from the past and present, identify patterns and trends and use them to inform decision making with a long-term view.
• Being sensitive and able to scan horizons and pick up weak signals of change, explore their potential implications and assess their impact and urgency.
• Using creativity and imagination to communicate insights in compelling and engaging ways to challenge current mental models; ability to develop scenarios, speculative designs to present future visions or by making it experiential.
• Being able to facilitate debate and discussion about possibl futures; help people to feel comfortable with the discomfort of uncertainty

Business Development & Knowledge Generation:

• Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need.
• Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches.
• Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations.

Business Management & Communication:

• Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
• Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Business Development & Integration within the UN:

• Ability to identity, and integrate capacity and assets of the UN system, and engage in joint work.
• Knowledge of the UN System and ability to apply this knowledge to strategic and/or practical situations.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics is required, OR
• A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in Economics in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of experience in the field of macroeconomic modeling and analysis, productivity, economic. transformation and diversification, comparative advantage, and regional economic integration is required.
• Previous experience in analyzing policies related to the above-mentioned areas and evaluating their economic and development impacts is desired.
• Proven track record of excellent understanding of economic theory, schools of economic thought, econometric modeling and advisory projects is desired.
• Sustained record of achieving high-quality results over an extended period is desired.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct macro- econometric work and assess quality of and review analytical work is desired.
• Proven publication record in peer-reviewed journals and/or in relevant UN/International Development Organization reports is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Fluency in Arabic is an asset.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.

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