Economist

Profile

Senior:

$79,537 - $123,282/year

Principal:

$92,073 - $142,714/year

First Review of Applications:

February 4, 2022 – Open until filled

Expected Start Date:

March 2022

Role

The Economist will lead the development of applied technical analysis and implement strategies for the solution of highly complex regional economic and fiscal issues. The position will lead programs and serve as project manager for economic research and fiscal impact studies for public and private organizations. This position coordinates region-wide fiscal and economic strategies designed to proactively leverage new opportunities and drive the agency toward reaching its strategic goals. The Lead Economist will directly support the Chief Economist and Data Science and Analytics Department. This position may be filled at either the Principal or Senior level.

Data Science and Analytics

As a premier multi-modal planning and project implementation agency, SANDAG relies on the quality and capacity of our Data Science and Analytics, and Economic programs. To help SANDAG achieve its agency objectives, the Data Science and Analytics Department was tasked to formulate actionable and transparent business intelligence strategies and implement valuable initiatives related to big data, open data, data analytics, and economic research. The Data Science and Analytics Department delivers data services that enhance the San Diego regional economy using descriptive and predictive data to help make informed policy decisions, while using an open data platform to improve transparency and share information with others.

Job Responsibilities:

•Design, implement, and apply economic research methodologies and fiscal analyses in support of regionalpolicies, plans, and programs including the Regional Plan,and TransNet; analyze, interpret, and report on the resultsof economic research projects of broad scope and complexity.

•Perform econometric analyses such as describing therelationships between economic activity, job growth, and demographic characteristics towards land/usedevelopment and changes in the transportation network.

•Mathematically describe relationships between changes in national and state economic activity and their impact on the region and within the various industry and sectors.

•Evaluate the economic impact and perform riskassessments of alternative actions; analyze variousdemographic and socioeconomic factors and publicpolicies to recommend specific actions to improve theregion’s economy.

•Design and conduct quantitative research and non-routine data analysis to evaluate and monitor current economicconditions, forecast future trends, and analyze the impactof proposed projects/programs/ policies on the region’s economy.

•Prepare written technical, analytical, and policy reports and present findings and recommendations to technical and policycommittees, the SANDAG Board of Directors, other elected and appointed officials, SANDAG clients and partner agencies.

•Develop successful long-term networks and businessrelationships with private and public sector organizations;engage in business development activities that lead to greaterawareness of the agency’s economic programs, services, and resources throughout the region.

•Coordinate and/or participate on inter-departmental and inter-agency teams assembled for modeling, analyses, and planningrelated projects; foster collaborative working relationships with local jurisdictions, Caltrans, and other public agencies.

•Apply for and respond to grants, develop Requests forProposals (RFP's), evaluate competitive project proposals and make recommendations for consultant selection; manage project consultants and ensure projects are completed on schedule, within the prescribed budget, and with a high-levelof effectiveness.

•Participate on a variety of committees and task forces; attend and participate in professional group meetings; keep current with new trends in the field of regional and national economics.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with course work in regional economics, public finance, mathematics, statistics, or a related field, and five years (Senior) to seven years (Principal) of recent experience in applied economics or a related field, an advanced degree is desirable. Equivalencies will be considered.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of applied economics and their application to transportation, regional planning, employment, public facilities, government finance, and related fields.

• Experience supervising and evaluating the work of professional and technical personnel; experience providing administrative and professional leadership and direction for assigned programs.

• Ability to prepare reports that document research procedures; experience effectively presenting, analyzing, and interpreting research findings in a compelling and easily understandable way and making conclusions and recommendations for consideration by elected officials and other decision makers.

• Experience preparing and delivering public presentations to Boards, community groups, and others; ability to effectively communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.

• Successful project management experience, including development of RFPs, scopes of work, budgets, and schedules, consultant selection, and contract management for plans and analyses.

• Demonstrated ability to foster strategic business partnerships and alliances with regional economic development agencies.

• Ability to exercise discretion and political acumen in dealing with complex, sensitive, and confidential issues regarding conflicting agendas and positions.

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of economic research methods, including input-output models and econometric methods; experience conducting/managing primary and secondary economic research studies, and using big data in econometric analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze and evaluate complex economic and financial issues, develop and evaluate solutions and provide sound advice and actionable recommendations on strategic, policy, and organizational management issues.

• Experience using multidimensionality economic analysis to estimate the effects of proposed projects or programs and to facilitate informed decision-making.

Benefits

Our benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance as well as employee assistance, wellness, and work/life balance programs. Retirement and financial security benefits are provided through a pension plan and deferred compensation program. SANDAG offers flexible work schedules and employees are provided with paid time off and paid holidays. Principal level positions are offered a three-year contract with additional defined contribution retirement benefits.

How to Apply

Interested candidates may apply for this position by completing a SANDAG

Employment Application.

See our Careers / How to Apply webpage for additional information.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), SANDAG will accommodate persons who require assistance in order to apply for a position at SANDAG. Applicants requiring an accommodation due to a disability during any stage of the recruitment and selection process, including requesting this document and related application materials in an alternative format, should make their needs known by contacting Human Resources at hr@sandag.org

, (619) 699-1900, (619) 699-1904 (TTY), or fax (619) 699-6905.

Further Information

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, applicants hired by SANDAG must show acceptable proof of identity and evidence of authorization to work in the United States.

The selected candidate can anticipate a driving record check upon hire, and approximately annually thereafter. The results of the check may determine whether the selected candidate will be permitted to drive for SANDAG business.

SANDAG requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID 19 within 45 days of hire; the COVID-19 vaccine booster also is required within 30 days from the date of hire, or 30 days after becoming eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine booster, whichever is sooner; reasonable accommodation requests will be considered.

SANDAG employees are expected to work in-person in our San Diego office.

Contact Us

401 B Street, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101-4231

(619) 699-1900 | TTY/TDD: (888) 722-4889

sandag.org

hr@sandag.org

SANDAG is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Company info

SANDAG.
Phone : (619) 699-1900
Fax : (619) 699-1905
Website : http://sandag.org