Consultant Research Analyst - Applied Political Economy and Quantitative Analysis

Job Posting Organization:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization founded on the belief that a better world is possible. Established to respond to crises and hardships, Mercy Corps operates in more than 40 countries worldwide, partnering with local communities to implement bold solutions that help people overcome adversity and build stronger communities from within. The organization focuses on humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding, ensuring that their interventions are context-sensitive and sustainable. The Crisis Analysis Team within Mercy Corps employs traditional research methods alongside advanced data science tools to navigate complex environments affected by climate change and conflict, aiming to create measurable impacts through coordinated efforts.

Job Overview:
The position of Consultant Research Analyst is integral to a project that investigates the global secondary economic impacts of the Iran war. The analyst will leverage their expertise in applied political economy and quantitative analysis to design an economic transmission pathway framework and build commodity price transmission models across various conflict scenarios. This role requires translating complex economic findings into actionable guidance for humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding practitioners. The analyst will also conduct structured key informant interviews and produce written outputs, including country snapshots and recommendations tailored to specific scenarios. The successful candidate will need to present findings in a clear manner suitable for a non-technical audience, including donors and policymakers, while also being flexible regarding the scope of the project as it develops.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Consultant Research Analyst will be responsible for designing the economic transmission pathway framework, which maps how shocks from the US-Iran conflict affect humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding outcomes across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa. They will develop a scenario architecture that outlines three distinct political-economic states and their implications. The analyst will also run commodity price transmission models to trace the impact of oil price shocks on food prices, produce forecasts, and document methodologies clearly. Additionally, they will create analytical snapshots for various case geographies, conduct key informant interviews to gather local insights, and produce visualizations to communicate findings effectively. The role also includes drafting recommendations for program design and funding strategies based on the analysis conducted.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in economics, political economy, international development, or a related field, or have equivalent professional experience with a strong quantitative focus. They should have demonstrable experience in price transmission modeling and econometric analysis, particularly in fragile or conflict-affected contexts. The ability to produce clear, publication-quality written analysis under tight deadlines is essential, as is experience in conducting structured interviews and synthesizing qualitative data into quantitative outputs. Familiarity with open-source economic datasets and platforms is also required, along with a track record of translating complex findings into actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences.

Educational Background:
An advanced degree in a relevant field such as economics, political economy, or international development is required. Candidates with equivalent professional experience that includes a strong quantitative component may also be considered. The educational background should reflect a solid understanding of applied political economy and quantitative analysis methods.

Experience:
Candidates should have significant experience in applied political economy analysis, particularly in conflict or fragile state contexts. They should be able to demonstrate their experience with price transmission modeling and econometric analysis, as well as their ability to produce clear and actionable recommendations based on complex data. Experience in the Middle East, South Asia, or East Africa is particularly desirable, along with a history of working under tight timelines to produce high-quality analytical outputs.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential given the nature of the role and the audience for the reports. Additional language skills relevant to the regions of focus (Middle East, South Asia, East Africa) would be advantageous but are not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
This is a fully remote position, requiring regular video calls with team members and key informants across different time zones. There is no travel required for this role. The position does not have supervisory responsibilities and reports directly to the Director of Global Crisis Analysis. Mercy Corps emphasizes accountability to participants and stakeholders, and team members are expected to engage communities as equal partners in project design and evaluation. The organization is committed to ongoing learning and encourages team members to dedicate time to personal and professional development. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to strict safeguarding and ethical standards.