Economist or Environmental Economist

Job Description

The Asia Foundation’s Thailand office is seeking a Thai economist (or environmental economist) to lead current programs in Thailand’s economic competitiveness, Covid-19 economic recovery, and middle-income trap related challenges. The position will also lead in the development of new programs in the area of environmentally sustainable economic growth, and carbon neutral energy transformation in Thailand. The economist role will develop and manage new Thailand-focused programs and will collaborate with other colleagues on regional cooperation in the greater Mekong region. This position will also entail significant cooperation with the Australian Government.

This role is expected to have extensive engagement with Thai government officials, and will ideally have strong knowledge of Thai policy-making processes. Likely program areas may include:

• Organizing policy dialogues that bring together researchers, policy-makers, civil society and officials, on regional architecture, security cooperation, and peacebuilding;
• Design, manage and/or lead research efforts on these and related issues;
• Ongoing engagement with business leaders, environment groups, ASEAN officials, experts on related issues, and the international community;
• Provide advice or technical support for Thai leaders and government agencies, as needed;
• Analysis of key international trends, and impact on Thailand and the Mekong region.

QUALIFICATIONS

The Foundation’s philosophy is to hire the most capable and talented people as first priority. Key qualifications include:

• Extensive knowledge of the Thai economy, and key economic reform issues in Thailand
• Extensive knowledge of the green growth, green finance, green energy transformation, and other related issues in environmentally sustainable economic growth
• Experience working for, or engaging with, Thai Government ministries involved in the economy, finance, environment, infrastructure, and energy
• Experience in managing programs or initiatives to policy reform
• Experience conducting research, and publishing research outputs
• Entrepreneurial approach, including track-record of building new networks and learning quickly about new policy areas
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Thai citizen (required)
• Advanced university degree (masters or doctorate) preferred but not required

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and CV by October 19, 2020 to poonsook.pantitanonta@asiafoundation.org with the position title listed in the subject line. The Asia Foundation is an equal opportunity employer, EOE/M/F/D/V. No phone calls, please.

About the Organization

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote regional cooperation.

Headquartered in San Francisco, The Asia Foundation works through a network of offices in 18 Asian countries and in Washington, DC. Working with public and private partners, the Foundation receives funding from a diverse group of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. In 2016, we provided $87.8 million in direct program support and distributed textbooks and other educational materials valued at $9.5 million.