Economist

EL 1 - $115,663 - $124,403 per annum plus superannuation
- ABARES Division
- Canberra, ACT
- Work on ambitious and challenging research projects.
- Develop your skills within a collaborative and supportive team.
- Help to address policy challenges of Australia's primary industries.

**Who we are**
**ABARES** is the **Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Science**, and we represent a rare concentration of economic and scientific expertise in Australian public service. The majority of our staff - including those in senior executive roles - are trained economists and scientists. We are an important link between research and policy. We provide analysis and advice to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) on issues affecting agriculture, fisheries and forestry. This includes producing public good research and data such as:

- Quarterly agricultural commodity forecasts.
- The dynamics of Australia’s production forestry sector.
- Assessing farm performance and productivity.
- Informing water management policy in the Murray Darling Basin.
- Advising whole of government processes on the role of agriculture and forestry in the transition to a net zero economy.
- Informing global debate and Australian government policy on agricultural trade barriers.
- Assessing the economic performance of Commonwealth managed fisheries.
- Undertaking sustainability reporting for the fisheries and forestry sectors.
- Maintaining essential statistical assets.
- Informing departmental policy through timely economic analysis.

There is currently a position vacant in the Forest Economics team where we are building a team that will be able to:

- Maintain Australia’s Essential Statistical Assets of the National Plantation Inventory.
- Report twice a year on industry performance through Australian Forest and Wood Products Statistics.
- Develop robust economic models of long-term demand for Australian forest and wood products under different national and international pricing and carbon policy settings.
- Analyse the importance and vulnerabilities of international trade markets to support Australia’s demand for wood products.
- Advise on the role that Australia’s production forestry sector can play in the transition to a net zero economy, including interactions with the agriculture sector.

There are currently positions vacant in the Agricultural Forecasting and Policy team, responsible for:

- Quarterly reporting on Australia’s agricultural production and exports, and commodity prices.
- Providing advice and analysis to inform policy development within the department.
- Monitoring and providing advice and analysis on domestic and international commodities markets and prices.
- Briefing the Executive and Minister’s Office on significant events in commodity markets and their implication for the value of the Australian agriculture sector.

**The Job**
Duties may include but are not limited to:

- Leading economic analysis and research and drawing public policy insight on current or emerging issues affecting Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry.
- Working with large datasets to analyse and quantify events, measure industry performance and drivers, produce statistical insights and summaries using modern tools.
- Leading a team to develop and run economic models.
- Leading the design of research programs, including working with policy colleagues to scope research projects and understand where economic analysis can assist.
- Communicating research insights and being creative in delivery of research products.
- Preparing quality written briefing papers and other materials on issues affecting Australian agriculture.
- Engaging with public and private sector stakeholders.

**Please note** although the role is centred in Canberra, there is flexibility for remote work from any location in Australia, pending mutual agreement.

There will be a merit pool established through this selection process, which is valid for a period of 18 months from the date the vacancy was advertised in the Gazette, may also be used to fill future ongoing vacancies in the division, where the duties are of a similar nature, in Canberra or remotely.

**What we are looking for**
**Knowledge and experience**
- Ability to gather and analyse data from diverse sources to support economic analysis of markets and policy, and to support others in undertaking similar projects.
- Ability to interpret and communicate economic analysis effectively, both verbally and in writing, and support others to do the same.
- A high degree of personal integrity including an ability to engage with team members constructively, and to acknowledge mistakes and learn from them.
- Ability to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders across the department and within the agriculture and forestry sectors to inform analysis and briefing.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgement.

Desirable:

- Experience in applied economic anal