Program Director – Markets and Industrial Development

  • Auto req ID 226BR
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Job Description

KAPSARC seeks a passionate, experienced Program Director to lead and contribute empirical research and policy analysis on oil, gas and coal markets and the impact of energy sector investment in economic development and industrialization. The latter includes refining, petrochemicals and other downstream elements of the value chain. This work will focus on understanding the short- and long-term outlooks for fuel and feed stock markets, what drives change, and how these industries contribute to overall economic development in both producer and consumer nations.
The successful candidate will provide ongoing thought leadership, guidance and supervision to ensure research projects result in high quality and actionable policy options. KAPSARC’s research involves a mix of analytical and policy-oriented research conducted in a dynamic, multicultural environment by a team of highly qualified and experienced economists. The programs are organized by skill set and area of study (a functional organization), while the research portfolio is organized through the lens of research questions and initiatives. The ability to effectively manage a team in a matrix is essential to ensure that project teams consisting of colleagues from several programs can effectively execute the organization’s projects and studies.

The Program Director is a member of the Research Leadership Team and contributes to setting a tone of collegiality, intellectual risk-taking, teamwork and institutional collaboration. He or she is as accountable to colleagues in the Research Leadership Team as to the Vice-President of Research, in line with our aim to delegate authority down through the organization to the greatest possible extent.

Required qualifications

  • A Ph.D. in economics, public policy or a related field. Alternatively, a bachelor’s or master’s degree with significant experience.
  • A minimum of 18 years of confirmed professional experience working on energy market policy, or other policy-related fields, preferably within a research organization, government or an international organization.

Experience

  • Widely recognized as an expert within the following fields: Oil, gas and coal markets and value chains, energy geopolitics and the relationship between financial and physical markets.
  • Thorough knowledge of international energy markets.
  • Strong experience of working in evidence-based public policy – impacting public policy or institutional reforms.
  • Proven ability to draft analytical and evidence-based policy-relevant papers that are clear, concise and reader-friendly; successful peer-reviewed publication is an advantage.
  • Demonstrated quantitative and/or qualitative research skills.
  • Strong ability to gather relevant information and data.
  • Ability to develop the capabilities of junior staff and help with their career development by delivering constructive comments and reviews.
  • Ability to manage in a functionally and topically matrixed institutional environment.
  • Good communication skills and an enthusiastic team player.
  • Planning research projects to which members of the program will contribute, and managing progress.
  • Identifying relevant research questions and appropriate methodologies, leading to designing and proposing research initiatives or projects within the approved initiatives, and coordinating with the Research Leadership Team to ensure consistency across the portfolio.
  • Taking ownership of research initiatives that align with the Program Director’s expertise, and being accountable to the Research Leadership Team for projects led by members of the Markets and Industrial Development program.
  • Providing ongoing thought leadership, guidance and supervision to ensure that research projects result in high-quality, concrete and actionable policy options.
  • Making significant contributions to projects or initiatives led by other colleagues.
  • Providing intellectual leadership in ensuring the relevance and impact of policy advice in relation to fuel and feedstock markets, and contributing to the definition of strategic research directions.
  • Designing, conducting and disseminating research through effective communication approaches that meet the needs of different audiences and maximize the impact of KAPSARC’s work.
  • Collaborating effectively across KAPSARC and its stakeholder networks to ensure that KAPSARC’s advice on transitions, climate and environmental policy is developed and disseminated in a consistent and coherent way.
  • Carrying out statistical and advanced modeling or econometric work (preferred but not essential).
  • Drafting, editing and producing evidence-based policy papers, working papers, reports and other publications on the above topics that are clear, concise and reader-friendly.
  • Delivering presentations at conferences and workshops.
  • Partnering with Human Resources and Research Operations to advance the professional development of new researchers in the energy economics domain.
  • Monitoring travel, expenses, and travel approvals in the program area.

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