Economist

Who we are

ZOE, the Institute for Future-Fit Economies, is an independent think & do tank based in Cologne founded in 2017. We are dedicated to policy-oriented research and evidence-driven advocacy for a future-fit economy. At the interface of politics, research, and civil society in the EU, we develop impulses for an economy that enables people to live well within planetary boundaries. We are a small team that values an appreciative atmosphere and good communication.

Further we offer:

• A motivating working environment in a small think & do tank that has made it to the top of EU politics in a short space of time
• A strategic, agile, value and purpose oriented working style
• Flexibility of working time and place, supporting a healthy work-life-balance
• A dynamic organization that is in the exciting phase of scaling up its activities

Key Responsibilities

As part of a motivated and impact-driven team you will carry out a variety of tasks, including:

• Content expertise and ability to develop project strategy on at least three of our core topics: fiscal policy, growth independence, economic (social and environmental) indicators, Beyond GDP, economic resilience, socio-economic cohesion, governance and policy design and industrial policy
• Team leadership and experience related to project management, leading and motivate a team, and supporting organisational development
• Facilitation and moderation of workshops, discussions, and events
• External presentation of ZOE's work to diverse audiences
• Relationship building with diverse audiences including policymakers, political figures, leading experts in the field, peer organisations.

The specific set of priority tasks and responsibilities will be decided together based on the list above and the selected candidate's specific background and skills.

Projects

You will have the opportunity to contribute to our work in three key projects:

• Redefining Progress Beyond GDP: We explore possibilities to redefine policies and policy goals of the EU and selected Member States away from a focus on economic growth to building a resilient, regenerative wellbeing economy that enables humanity to thrive within the limits of the planet. Key issues include:

• What new metrics and indicators are important for understanding our economy?

• How can economic resilience be conceptualised and what would an economic resilience index need to entail to be a feasible alternative to GDP?
• How can social and ecological goals be prioritised in economic policy making?

Whom we are looking for

We are looking for people that share our core principles: value orientation, sustainability, agility, self-responsibility, and flat hierarchies. Your profile would include the following skills, background, and knowledge:

• At least 3 years of professional experience in economic policy consulting or comparable fields
• At least 2 years of experience leading teams and projects
• Expert knowledge on macroeconomic policy and strong analytical & content-expertise skills;
• Knowledge on at least three of our core topics: fiscal policy, growth independence, economic (social and environmental) indicators, Beyond GDP, economic resilience, socio-economic cohesion, governance and policy design and industrial policy
• Strong political strategy skills, including creativity and innovation in problem solving of the EU's economic policy challenges.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and verbal) when explaining research results to a non-expert audience
• Capability to work on several projects in parallel and to work with ease also across projects
• Fluency in written and spoken English and in German is preferable
• Master's degree in economics, political economy or equivalent economics knowledge and skills acquired through other demonstrable means

In addition, some of the following competencies fit well into our team, but are not a requirement: contacts within European policy networks, an academic track record, knowledge about EU decision-making processes, familiarity with EU economic governance, experience in the acquisition of third-party funds and knowledge of participative and co-creative processes, such as design thinking.

Conditions

The weekly workload is 40 hours whereby working hours can be arranged flexibly. The position is planned to start in the fall. We wish for a regular presence in Cologne, Berlin or Brussels, however we support a hybrid work environment. Candidates should be willing to travel/commute at minimum once per month, likely to our office in Cologne. While we are flexible about the location, candidates need to be willing to live within the EU. The gross wage will be €4,000-€5,000 per month, depending on the competences and experience. The contract will be for one year initially; however, the position is intended to contribute to the long-term development of the organisation. For this reason, we aim for a longer-term fit.

Diversity

We believe that our society's behaviour disproportionately hurts the most marginalized people - including people of colour, people from working class backgrounds, people with disabilities, women and LGBTIQ people. We are committed to challenge this through our work for socially just development and by creating a diverse workplace at our organisation. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people who are members of marginalized communities.

Application procedure

We are continuously accepting applications. Please send your CV (max 3 pages), a motivation letter (400-500 words), and a work sample (power point slides, publication, or anything similar) to applications@zoe-institut.de. Please do not attach a photo to your application. Please state "Economic Policy Consultant" in the subject line. If we consider your application to be suitable, we will get back to you as soon as possible with dates for an online interview. In case of any questions please contact applications@zoe-institut.de.