Economics Manager

Job Description

Summary

NEOM is the world’s most ambitious project, an accelerator of human progress. NEOM is:

• An economic engine for the region and the world
• A powerful approach to environmental conservation
• A living laboratory where entrepreneurship will chart the course for a new future
• A home for an international community of dreamers and doers

Oxagon is NEOM’s economic and industrial engine, offering exceptional livability while serving as a catalyst for innovation. A new paradigm for advanced and clean industries, driven by innovation, underpinned by exceptional livability in thriving communities. Enabled by an automated port with a fully integrated physical and digital supply chain network, Oxagon will build thriving communities, where people and technology come together in harmony in nature.

The economics manager is responsible for building the socioeconomic insights capability within Oxagon, to support Oxagon and NEOM’s strategy, in achieving its sustainable economic development goals. The aim is to develop the Strategy Office’s capability in thought leadership and holistic socioeconomic impact assessment, as well as evaluating the economic return on investment of real estate projects beyond the traditional financial return on investment.

The candidate must have entrepreneurial spirit and, is expected to take a leading role in supporting econometric analysis, scenario planning, and macroeconomic impact assessment across Oxagon.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop modeling and sensitivity analysis capability of the Strategy Office with a mix of econometric and sensitivity models at an Oxagon level and a District level.
• Leverage new and innovative metrics from international organizations applicable to city wealth creation and promotion of the preservation of intergenerational wealth.
• Liaise with NEOM Economic Development Office (EDO), PIF and other entities to undertake socioeconomic impact assessments and to stay appraised of developments relating to economic policy rolled out by these bodies
• Manage the provision of analytical support and macroeconomic analyses to the various development teams and wider Oxagon environment.
• Review, validate, and oversee the economic assessments undertaken in the various business
• cases propose adjustment to the methodology and execute.
• Enhance existing work on demographic analysis, support the build of demographic profiles for future residents and implications on development activities, incorporating futuristic trends and behavioral economics practices.
• Lead the affordability and cost of living assessment efforts.
• Propose and develop public policies, such as (but not limited to) subsidies, to maximize welfare of Oxagon residents, assessing impact of such measures in business plans and quality of life / affordability. Realize appropriate trade-offs in policy making.
• Continue the development and improvement of the Oxagon Integrated Economic Model (IEM)
• Develop and roll out appropriate and relevant methodologies for conducting and monitoring economic analysis for economic impact analyses, including job creation, GDP/GVA calculations, employee productivity and overall economic contribution.
• Support the Strategy Office Lead with developing the Blue Economy for Oxagon’s floating platforms.
• Contribute to the fee structure development for City Management services, balancing a healthy stream of sustainable revenues while maintaining affordability thresholds for future residents.
• Oversee the periodic update of all economic data within the Oxagon Data Repository and the subsequent implications for strategic decision-making.
• Report on a monthly and quarterly basis changes in economic impact assessments taking into consideration global, regional, and local economic changes, including GDP contribution of Oxagon to the wider NEOM and KSA economies.
• Develop written communication and verbal talking points for executives to facilitate decision- making.
• Support strategy development and execution by ensuring projects and initiatives are aligned with Oxagon and NEOM’s vision and annual strategic targets.
• Support the Strategy Office Lead in establishing the department’s vision, goals, and development strategies.
• Lead the planning and execution of research activities within the Strategy Office.
• Coach, manage, and develop the skills of the economics analyst and other junior talent, when required.
• Generate insights and recommendations and translate them into actionable plans for leadership.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in economic development agencies, finance, and advisory or strategy consulting roles focused on economic development and national development strategies.
• Undergraduate degree from a top-tier institution in: Business, Economics, Finance, Strategy, Analytics, or related fields.
• Advanced degrees and/or professional qualifications are required.
• Strong knowledge of economic theory and an excellent track record of delivering high quality economic research, socioeconomic impact assessments, public policy, and scenario analysis.
• Exposure to academia, new, and innovative measures for socioeconomic impact.
• Possess strong financial acumen, including an astute awareness of wider commercial, business, and socio-economic issues
• High proficiency in problem solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking, experience in large-scale
• national transformation programs is preferred.