Climate Professionals
The IMF has a role to play in helping its members address those challenges of climate change for which fiscal and macroeconomic policies are an important component of the appropriate policy response. The Fund publishes research on the economic implications of climate change - specifically regarding macroeconomic and financial stability - and provides policy advice to our membership on mitigation, adaptation, and transition strategies to help them capture the opportunities of low-carbon, resilient growth.
As a climate professional at the IMF, you will contribute to a wide range of macro-critical climate-related policy work. You will build collaborative relationships with colleagues across the IMF, as well as with key institutions, authorities, and other international partners while ensuring that the Fund continues to fulfil its mandate.
Climate professionals will be hired through two tracks:
- General macroeconomists with highly relevant climate related experience/expertise, and
- Specialists with in-depth experience in climate change, environmental and energy economics, financial sector climate risk assessment, climate modelling etc.
What Would I Do
Climate Professionals will join teams dedicated to working on macro-critical climate change issues and help drive the climate change agenda in line with the Fund’s policy guidance relating to:
- Mitigation: including advice on measures to contain and reduce emissions through policies—such as increasing carbon taxes, reducing fuel subsidies and improving regulation—and providing tools to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions. This also includes research on the economic effects of climate change mitigation, the integration of research results in the multilateral surveillance products of the Fund, and contributing to the Fund’s effort to enhance surveillance of climate change issues in the context of IMF Article IVs.
- Adaptation: including guidance on building financial and institutional resilience to natural disasters and climate change such as rising sea levels and other warming-related phenomena, and integrating climate change perspectives in public financial management frameworks, especially public investment management and the budget process.
- Transition to a low-carbon economy: including updates to financial sector regulation to cover climate risks and exposure to “brown” assets, as well as measures to help countries diversify economies away from carbon intensive industries while mitigating the social impact on affected communities.
Who Should Apply
You should have:
- An advanced degree (master’s/PhD) in economics, environmental or climate economics, finance, or a related field.
- Relevant professional experience at the national and regional levels in macro-critical climate-related policy work or specialized experience in one or more of the areas below:
- Mitigation including energy pricing reform, energy transition for fossil-fuel exporters, carbon pricing, fuel subsidy reform, regulation, land use and related fields.
- Adaptation including disaster management, implementation of climate resilience plans, green public financial management (PFM), and related fields.
- Transition to a low-carbon economy including financial sector regulation to cover climate risks and exposure to “brown” assets, economic diversification away from carbon intensive industries, and social impact mitigation for affected communities.
- CGE or DSGE economic modeling with a focus on climate change and/or environmental economics.
- Climate risk analysis and stress testing.
- Proven research interests in climate change issues as well as a strong track record of academic and policy-relevant publications on these issues. Comprehensive understanding of climate change policies, strategies, institutions, finance, governance, and regulations is a bonus.
- Strong interpersonal, communications and writing skills, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English
- Ability to deal effectively and diplomatically with member country authorities
How to Apply
We are inviting applications from qualified candidates interested in joining the climate workstream via the following positions:
The Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) is seeking to hire a number of economists to help drive FAD’s climate agenda in (i) mitigation and energy pricing reform, (ii) addressing the macroeconomic impacts of energy transition for fossil-fuel exporters, and developing guidance on strategies for low-growth (iii) adaptation and natural disaster management, and (iv) green public financial management (PFM). Applicants should have an advanced degree in economics or other relevant area, and a strong record of analytical and applied policy work in one or more of the areas previously listed. Applications have now closed for the position; successful candidates will be contacted in due course.
The Monetary and Capital Markets Department (MCM) is seeking an expert with skills assessing climate risk and its implications for financial stability and macro-financial linkages. The ideal candidate will have an advanced degree in economics or other relevant area and a demonstrable track record in designing scenarios for climate physical and transition risks and performing stress testing to cover both risks. For more information and to apply by May 1, 2022 click here.
The Research Department (RES) has an opening for an Economist/Sr. Economist to work on the economic modeling of climate change and mitigation policies, with particular emphasis on CGE and DSGE modeling and analysis. Applicants will have an advanced degree in economics, a strong background in CGE or DSGE economic modeling, and expertise in conducting policy-relevant research on macro-climate issues. Applications have now closed for the position; successful candidates will be contacted in due course.
The Strategy, Policy and Review Department (SPR) develops IMF policies and ensures their consistent application vis-à-vis the membership. SPR is seeking several economists to assist with developing climate-related policies and supervising their even-handed implementation. SPR also acts as the IMF’s climate coordination hub and spearheads collaboration with high-level counterparts at both the bilateral and multilateral level. Applicants should have an advanced degree in economics or other relevant area and an interest in designing policies at the intersection of climate, macroeconomics and finance. Applications have now closed for the position; successful candidates will be contacted in due course.
As part of the Mid-Career Program for Experienced Macroeconomists, we are also seeking experienced macroeconomists from around the world who have expertise in macro-critical climate-related policy work. Applicants should have a graduate degree in macroeconomics or a related field, expertise in macroeconomic policy issues at national and regional levels, and demonstrated proficiency in quantitative modeling and econometrics to support analysis and policy formulation. Applications have now closed for the position; successful candidates will be contacted in due course.
Online Course
Enroll for the Macroeconomics of Climate Change: Science, Economics, and Policies online course via eDx and learn about the science and economics behind climate change, the framework for global climate action, and how the IMF engages on climate change issues. This self-paced modular course is estimated to take up to one week, and it is free with optional upgrades available.