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:

Hiring For:

The 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.