Applied Economist
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government at The University of Georgia invites applications for a Public Service Faculty position in the Workforce and Economic Development Division. The position will be available February 1, 2025 and carries rank in the public service faculty career ladder of the University. Rank on hire will depend on the candidate’s qualifications and experience, according to Public Service and Outreach Appointment and Promotion Guidelines found here: https://outreach.uga.edu/resources/promotions/
The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government – Who We Are
As a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia, the UGA Institute of Government contributes directly to the university’s overarching public service mission of improving people’s lives by helping to create jobs and prosperity, developing leaders, and addressing critical issues. This public service mission, and the Institute of Government’s role in its success, is at the heart of UGA’s land grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia and its residents.
We have a team of experts who inform, inspire, and innovate every day so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. We are uniquely positioned to provide impartial support to local governments and state agencies and convene multidisciplinary and intragovernmental groups to plan for and address many of the challenges faced by communities across Georgia.
Our areas of expertise and focus include workforce and economic development; infrastructure and community resilience; government operations and organizational effectiveness; measuring and reporting on impact and outcomes; building skills, knowledge and capacity of government leaders and teams; and maximizing technology and data for governments and their leaders. Whether it is through our award-winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program for rural communities, our CyberArch student program that helps Georgia communities increase their cybersecurity, our efforts to build a visionary plan for military and community partnerships to spur economic prosperity and resilient infrastructure, our financial management certificate program to build the capacity of public officials, or hosting educational events about e-mobility strategies for local governments …. We Know Georgia.
Fulfilling our land-grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia is more than a project. It’s our purpose. We are growing and excited to add individuals to our team who share our commitment to public service – building stronger communities, inspiring economic resilience, and improving quality of life for communities across Georgia and beyond.
Our Culture – How We Operate
We disseminate knowledge through research, scholarship, and instruction. We collaborate internally across our areas of expertise and across the university with academic researchers to bring best practices and expert insights to the governments and communities we serve. We are committed to fielding a team of diverse experts who are grounded in our culture of excellence and approach our work with Georgia’s governments in a comprehensive and objective fashion.
Position Summary
The successful candidate will have primary responsibilities in conducting economic analysis, fiscal analysis, economic impact studies, economic modeling, research and providing professional services for state agencies and local governments. The applied economist will also work on collaborative projects with the Institute’s applied demographer, workforce and economic development team, and data analytics teams. Monitors and interprets economic, labor, demographic, and government administrative data indicators. Analyzes developments in Georgia’s labor market, state tax and revenue, and other areas effecting Georgia’s economy and considers the impacts on the state’s economic outlook. Uses and adjusts computer programs, models, and databases for data retrieval, manipulation, presentation, statistical analysis.
Academic Preparation and General Qualifications
A master’s degree, with one year of experience, in economics or applied economics, statistics, political science or similar quantitative field is required. Ph.D. or equivalent is preferred. Strong interest in public service and state economic trends. Able to work effectively on teams. The ideal candidate will have at least one year of work experience performing economic analysis and economic impact analysis in an applied setting. Background working on client projects with defined timelines and deliverables. In addition, the successful candidate will possess superb research, analysis, writing, and presentation skills. The position involves consulting with local government officials, the state legislators, state agency leaders and staff, non-profits, and private groups; and preparing reports, and other publications that address practitioner/policymaker needs. Travel for in-person meetings is required.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Compensation will be determined by the qualifications and experience of the successful applicant. Candidates will be considered for the position until it is filled. Application materials should include a cover letter, curriculum vita, a brief writing sample from a technical report, and three references with contact information. The finalists for the position will be required to provide three letters of recommendation. All applicants must apply through UGAJobs to be considered for the position.