Senior Economist/ Économiste Principal

Job Summary

This role is pivotal in shaping the Public Policy Centre’s research agenda through high-quality economic analysis, quantitative modeling, and policy evaluation. It leads and contributes to high-impact research projects, translates complex economic insights into actionable policy recommendations, and engages with policymakers, media, and other stakeholders. It collaborates across teams, contributes to publications and knowledge sharing, fostering a dynamic and collaborative research environment.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Understanding the Business
  • Demonstrates broad knowledge of CSA Standard offerings.
  • Understands the CSA Group value proposition and business opportunities outlined in the Public Policy strategic plan for Canada.
  • Drives and closes those opportunities in support of CSA Standards.
• Working Well with Others
  • Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary researchers and external partners.
  • Contributes to multi‑stakeholder consultations, roundtables, workshops, and conferences.
  • Develops and maintains strong working relationships with external stakeholders in government, industry, and academia.
  • Works closely with other Standards team members and corporate functions.
• Delivering Results
  • Research and Analysis
    • Conducts empirical economic research on topics such as health and social policy, labour markets, productivity, taxation, social policy, innovation, housing, climate economics, or fiscal policy.
    • Designs and executes quantitative analyses using microdata, administrative data, or macroeconomic datasets.
    • Develops economic models or simulations to assess policy impacts.
    • Monitors economic trends and emerging policy issues relevant to the Policy Centre’s mandate.
  • Publications & Communication
    • Produces high‑quality research outputs, including reports, briefing notes, policy papers, blog posts, and op‑eds.
    • Publicates findings to policymakers, partner organisations, stakeholders, and the public.
    • Translates technical economic concepts into accessible insights for non‑expert audiences.
  • Thought Leadership
    • Provides expert commentary to media upon request.
    • Represents the organisation in academic, policy, and public forums.
    • Helps shape the strategic direction of the research programme.
  • Other duties as required.

Education and Experience

• Master’s degree or PhD in Economics, Public Policy, Applied Economics, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of relevant work‑related experience.
• Strong grounding in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, or public finance.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct rigorous quantitative analysis using statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, Python).
• Excellent writing skills, with experience producing policy‑relevant research.
• Ability to communicate complex economic concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Fluency in French is required for candidates recruited for the Quebec office.
• Fluency in English is required to meet the needs of clients outside Quebec.

Preferred

• Prior experience in a think tank, academic research centre, government department, or international organisation.
• Familiarity with Canadian policy issues (or relevant regional context).
• Experience accessing and working with large datasets.
• Comfort engaging with media or public audiences.

Salary and Benefits

The typical hiring range for this position is $98,490 – $129,270 CAD gross annually . Eligible employees may participate in the annual bonus program, subject to eligibility requirements, and receive a comprehensive benefits package.

What we offer

• Dynamic work environment with projects that have a global impact.
• Opportunities for growth with a diverse, multidisciplinary team and external partners.
• Special consideration for French‑speaking candidates.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The CSA Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on any grounds stipulated in applicable laws.