Research Officer (RO)

Job Posting Organization:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization established in 1944 with the mission to promote global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. The IMF has a diverse workforce of approximately 2,700 employees from over 150 countries, operating in various regions globally. The organization plays a crucial role in providing financial assistance and policy advice to its member countries, helping them achieve macroeconomic stability and growth.

Job Overview:
The Commodities Unit of the Research Department at the IMF is seeking a highly motivated Research Officer (RO) who possesses strong quantitative and analytical skills. The primary function of the Commodities Unit is to provide timely assessments of developments in energy and commodity markets. The successful candidate will contribute to the unit's research efforts aimed at enhancing the understanding of commodity markets and addressing macro-critical issues related to energy transitions and climate change. The Research Officer will be expected to support the unit's commodity market surveillance agenda and engage in analytical work that involves data gathering, analysis of economic or statistical data sets, and producing high-quality analyses. The role requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment, focusing on energy, metal, and agricultural markets, as well as climate change-related issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Research Officer will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: researching, collecting, and compiling information on commodity markets; maintaining and updating quantitative and qualitative economic, financial, and statistical databases, which includes retrieving data from platforms such as Bloomberg, HAVER, and DataStream. The officer will also process, consolidate, and transform data sets using statistical and econometric techniques. Additionally, the role involves preparing charts and tables, accessing and manipulating macroeconomic data from various sources, and assisting staff economists in conducting quantitative data analysis utilizing econometric and other statistical tools. The position requires a proactive approach to data management and analysis, ensuring accuracy and relevance in all outputs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess educational development typically acquired through the completion of an advanced university degree, or equivalent, in economics, finance, statistics, computer science, or a related field. Alternatively, a university degree supplemented by a minimum of six years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. Additionally, candidates with a minimum of two years of relevant experience at Grade A08 or equivalent will also be considered. The ideal candidate should demonstrate exemplary data management, organizational, and macroeconomic skills, along with proficiency in various techniques necessary to support the department's work. Strong knowledge of statistics, econometrics, and macroeconomic principles is essential, as well as excellent communication skills, including the ability to access data via intranet and familiarity with internet software, databases, and protocols.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in economics, finance, statistics, computer science, or a related field. Candidates with a university degree supplemented by substantial relevant professional experience may also qualify. The educational background should provide a solid foundation in quantitative analysis and economic theory, enabling the candidate to effectively contribute to the research and analytical functions of the Commodities Unit.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of two years of relevant experience at Grade A08 or equivalent, or a total of six years of relevant professional experience. The experience should ideally include work related to data analysis, economic research, or commodity markets. Familiarity with econometric software and statistical analysis is highly desirable, as is any prior experience in commodity market research, although this is not a strict requirement.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is the working language of the IMF. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required for this position.

Additional Notes:
This position is a one-year contractual appointment, with the possibility of renewal for up to four years of cumulative contractual service, contingent upon performance, budget availability, and ongoing business needs. The IMF is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including those with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations for disabilities during the selection process can be requested, and information on how to do so will be provided during the application process.