Experienced Economists

As an experienced economist at the IMF, you will join one of the largest teams of economists anywhere in the world, focused on macroeconomics. You will contribute to a wide range of challenging policy issues that span different branches of economics by providing analysis, policy, and program design, and capacity development to help our member countries address their specific economic challenges. You will build collaborative relationships with colleagues across the IMF, as well as with key institutions, authorities, and leaders around the world to develop creative solutions to evolving global economic challenges.

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What would I do

Our economic departments are organized either by geographic area or by functional areas of expertise which may cut across regions.

As an economist in an area department you would be assigned to work on one or two specific countries or for a region. You would analyze and design an appropriate mix of fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies to promote and maintain macroeconomic stability, examine macro-financial linkages in an increasingly globalized world, address issues of good economic governance, examine issues of fiscal and external debt sustainability, and develop approaches to promoting regional and broader trade liberalization.

As an economist in a functional department you will be responsible for providing advice, developing policies, conducting research, or delivering teaching in assigned fields. You may contribute to the world-class, ground-breaking research the IMF conducts on policy-related issues to help shape our work, build expertise within our member countries, and work closely with area department economists in analyzing and guiding how important current issues affect member countries.

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Who should apply

You should have:

  • An advanced degree (master’s/PhD) in macroeconomics or a related field such as monetary economics, financial economics, public finance, international trade, or econometrics

  • Relevant professional experience at the national and regional levels in macroeconomic policy, quantitative techniques, and country surveillance, usually gained in a central bank, ministry of finance, or international financial institution. Experience in a research institute or academia is also acceptable if it is combined with some exposure to macroeconomic policy making. Specific credentials are:
    • ○ PhD with three to ten years of relevant work experience
    • ○ Master’s with seven to fourteen years of relevant work experience
  • Demonstrated proficiency in quantitative modeling and econometrics to support analysis and policy formulation

  • 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

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    How to Apply

    We advertise for Experienced Economist vacancies on a regular basis on the IMF Workday site. The IMF’s needs generally fall within the following two categories of economists:

  • Experienced macroeconomists. For our core economist roles, we are looking for skilled professionals who will bring hard-won practical skills which can be applied to a range of positions across the IMF. For these roles, we maintain a pipeline of candidates. Advertisements for this pipeline group will be periodically available on the IMF Workday site. These advertisements do not usually offer a specific assignment and often will coincide with outreach visits to a particular geographic region. The selection process for experienced economist roles consists of two steps: an initial selection process to include you in our experienced economist pipeline, candidates included in the pipeline will then be able to view and compete for specific roles as they become available.
     
  • Specialist economists. The IMF also advertises for economists who have significant expertise in a specific economic field of study and/or extensive experience in that field. These vacancies are typically advertised directly by a department, which then offers a contract to qualified candidates. These roles are not subject to the pipeline recruitment process as outlined above. If selected to these roles you might remain with us for a long-term career but you are not typically expected to move to different positions within the IMF.

    • The selection process for economist roles will vary but will typically include a preliminary interview (normally by phone) followed by a panel interview to further assess your technical and behavioral skills. For most positions a written test will also be required.

    Please also see pages on Short Term Experts, Special Appointees Program, and Externally-Financed Appointees for information on other opportunities for the experienced economist.