Lead Economist – Development Strategy [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

UNDP operates as the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development within the UN development system, helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through evidence-based policy advice and integrated development solutions.
Through the Global Policy Network (GPN), UNDP connects global expertise with local priorities to strengthen institutional capabilities and deliver impactful development results.

The Inclusive Growth Team at the Bangkok Regional Hub supports governments and UNDP Country Offices across Asia and the Pacific in analysing economic challenges, improving development strategies, and strengthening institutional capacities for inclusive, sustainable growth. Key areas of work include analytical diagnostics on growth, productivity, job creation, inequality, structural transformation, social protection, and inclusive economic policies.

A major component of the team’s work is Building Opportunities for Leadership in Development (BOLD), UNDP’s high-level development strategy advisory initiative that supports governments to translate evidence, diagnostics, and foresight into strategically prioritized, forward-leaning reform pathways.

To support this expanding portfolio, the Inclusive Growth team seeks a Lead Economist who is a well-rounded development professional with strong command across multiple dimensions of development and ability to integrate them. The role requires deep technical expertise in economic growth, job creation, and human development, alongside a solid understanding of governance, institutions, and policy processes. The ideal candidate combines analytical rigor with a strong delivery orientation, demonstrated through hands-on experience leading development and growth diagnostics, strategy formulation, and policy design. Extensive experience advising governments at senior levels on national development strategy, reform priorities, and long-term transformation is essential.

Duties and Responsibilities

Technical and Analytical Leadership (BOLD)

• Lead or contribute to country-specific economic diagnostic assessments under BOLD, including growth analysis, productivity decomposition, sectoral transformation, jobs diagnostics, and inclusion mapping, to identify binding constraints and reform priorities.
• Translate analytical findings into forward-leaning development strategies and reform pathways, supporting BOLD countries to prioritize, sequence, and operationalize reforms.
• Integrate economic growth, inclusion, and prosperity frameworks into national and sectoral strategy processes in BOLD countries, ensuring alignment between long-term objectives and near-term policy actions.
• Produce policy briefs, discussion notes, and presentations tailored for senior government audiences to support upstream policy dialogue.
• Provide technical backstopping to UNDP COs implementing capability strengthening pilots under BOLD.

Advisory Services and Government Engagement

• Engage with senior government counterparts in ministries of finance, planning, economy, and related institutions, to support upstream dialogue on development strategy and reform priorities.
• Facilitate high-level policy dialogues under BOLD on inclusive growth, economic transformation, job creation, and institutional reform.
• Provide hands-on advisory support to governments on the identification, design, and sequencing of priority reforms, drawing on diagnostics, foresight, and political economy considerations to support implementation readiness.
• Strengthen capabilities for evidence-based decision-making, including support on modelling, data systems, and policy planning tools to inform reform delivery.

Ensure Programme Support and Coordination

• Support overall management and delivery of BOLD regional and country-level activities.
• Coordinate with COs to ensure alignment between regional analytical frameworks and country-level implementation needs.
• Contribute to BOLD work planning, reporting, monitoring of results, and resource mobilization efforts.
• Support partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and development partners involved in economic policy and institutional capability work to advance BOLD objectives.

Lead Knowledge Generation and Learning

• Lead the development of BOLD knowledge products on inclusive growth, institutional capabilities, and economic transformation.
• Facilitate peer learning across countries participating in BOLD.
• Document lessons learned, methodologies, and country innovations for global dissemination.
• Contribute to regional policy dialogues, workshops, and conferences.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Institutional Arrangement

The Lead Economist will report directly to the UNDP Regional Bureau for Asia and Pacific Chief Economist (and head of the Inclusive Growth GPN Team), and will work closely with:

• The Inclusive Growth Team Regional Advisor, economists, and policy specialists
• The BOLD Project Manager
• Country Office economists and programme teams
• Government counterparts and external partners

Regular engagement with the Global Policy Network (GPN) and other Regional Hubs may be required.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

2030 Agenda: Prosperity:

• Inclusive Growt- Development Planning
• Inclusive Growth - Economic Diversification
• Inclusive Growth - Growth strategies
• Inclusive Growth - Structural Transformation
• Inclusive Growth - Jobs and Livelihoods
• Governance - Economic Governance

Business Direction and Strategy:

System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• An advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Economics, Public Policy, Development Economics, or a related field is required. Or
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A PhD in Economics or related field is desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum 10 years (with master’s degree) or 12 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible professional experience in economic policy analysis, growth strategy, jobs, and inclusive development.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience advising governments at senior levels on development strategy, economic reform, and long-term structural transformation.
• Proven track record in leading or contributing to development and growth diagnostics, strategy formulation processes, and institutional or policy capability assessments.
• Experience and strong technical grounding in economic growth, employment, and human development, with working knowledge of governance and institutional dynamics.

Desired Skills:

• Experience working with UN agencies, international financial institutions, or other development partners Familiarity with development challenges and policy contexts in Asia and the Pacific.
• Experience in supporting partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and development partners involved in economic policy and institutional capabilities

Required language(s): Fluency in English is required.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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