Lead Economist (Macro and Sector Analysis) at Stears

The Role

We are looking for an intellectual leader who can lead a team of analysts and collaborate with those from other teams (e.g. our economic modeling team) to generate insightful, market-leading content on Sub-Saharan Africa and help drive our view on the global economy and politics. They will be expected to promote and present our views to improve Stears’ visibility among current and prospective clients, participate in client-facing events, and be credible as a leading voice in internal discussions. The role requires a thorough understanding of major global and Pan-African themes in economics and policy, and the ability to practically apply research and analysis to real-world situations.

The Lead Economist will have strong leadership skills and be able to effectively develop and guide a team. They will need to demonstrate economic skills and be able to convey their knowledge and insight to help drive innovation and outlook quality among the team.

Key responsibilities:

Provide thought leadership and guidance.

• Be an intellectual leader within the insights team, providing timely, market-leading analysis and insight on macroeconomic and industry Pan-African issues.
• Shape and refine the ‘Stears View’ on key economic and sector topics, providing direction and thought leadership. 
• Show a strong sense of editorial judgment and ensure adherence to editorial guidelines, including independence, objectivity, and quality

Manage and develop a team of analysts

• Directly manage a team of analysts and research analysts working on Pan-African issues, helping to engender an environment of intellectual challenge and creativity.
• Work with analysts to mentor them and ensure they have a continuous program of development.

Support the promotion of views externally

• Conduct Analyst Briefing engagements with clients on SSA macroeconomy and industry issues.
• Work collaboratively with Stwars sales colleagues to support new business development.

Required qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Economics, Finance, or a related field
• Developed team or project management skills and an ability to mentor and guide an intellectually-driven team
• Strong analytical skills and an ability to spot and articulate trends in economics, policy, and other key sectors
• Exceptional writing and editing skills
• Strong presentation skills, and comfort in maintaining a public profile
• An ability to work collaboratively with other senior stakeholders and balance their competing requirements
• Experience with econometric and data science software is desirable