ECONOMIST

The Job

To develop and recommend economic business models and applications, conduct market studies, quantitative analysis and research in a liberalized telecommunications and broadcasting environment to inform the development of policies, procedures, pricing and fee regimes, and regulatory mechanisms which facilitate the realisation of a competitive and regulated telecommunications environment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Research and gather data for the development of economic business models for the telecommunications environment.
2. Research, review and report on economic and competition policy issues in the telecommunications sector.
3. Prepare comprehensive reports on research results including competition related issues.
4. Analyse recognized cost models and assist in determining the most appropriate model to be used for pricing various services (interconnection, domestic, international, access etc.).
5. Research and prepare economic models for a liberalized telecommunications sector.
6. Conduct international comparison of prices and other indicators for various telecommunications services.
7. Conduct analysis of competition and national trends in market share in regulated markets locally and internationally as it relates to the competitors’ profiles and the emergence of alternative service providers.
8. Provide analysis and prepare reports on aspects of rate regulation, competitor service tariffs, costing methodology and procedures.
9. Develop pricing structures for regulating wholesale and retail service rates in a competitive telecommunications environment, taking into consideration the effects of technological advancements in the delivery of these services.
10. Assess rates, terms and conditions of retail and wholesale services in the telecommunications sector.
11. Monitor, and/ or participate in, the activities and work of the relevant international and regional regulatory agencies, and report on emerging recommendations for econometric modelling and rate analysis.
12. Prepare, revise and update market forecasts for the development of business plans.
13. Conduct economic and market feasibility studies and prepare reports for existing and emerging telecommunications markets in the local and international broadcasting and telecommunications sector using economic, financial, statistical, and demographic data.
14. Provide data which assists in the development, review, and maintenance of the Authority’s fee regime for numbers, spectrum, and concessions.
15. Represent the Authority as required.
16. Assist in maintaining an Information/Knowledge Centre.
17. Comply with the HSE policy & procedures of the Authority and cooperate with workplace health and safety measures and initiatives.
18. Take reasonable care for your own safety and the safety of others and report all accidents, injuries, near misses and hazards to Manager/Supervisor.
19. Perform other related duties as required by job function.

Qualifications and Experience     

• Recognized Bachelor’s degree in Economics
• Further qualifications with specialization in Econometrics and Statistics.
• Recognized MSc qualification in Economics/Data science will be considered an asset.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ working experience in economic policy and planning, econometric modelling, rate analysis, tariff preparation and economic/competition research.
• Experience in a developing or developed telecommunications and broadcasting regulatory environment will be considered an asset.

Core Competencies                                                          Professional Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Strong knowledge of:

• Economic modelling and research techniques
• Data gathering, sampling and analytical techniques for conducting interviews and surveys.
• Research and analytical skills to monitor economic trends and various mathematical modelling techniques to develop forecasts.
• Both microeconomics and macroeconomics principles
• Econometrics and the use of mathematical techniques such as calculus, game theory, and regression analysis to formulate economic models.
• Data analytics

• Strong proficiency in MS Office suite inclusive of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Project
• Quantitative techniques and their application to economic modelling and forecasting,
• High proficiency in the use of econometric and statistical software (for example, R, STATA, SPSS, SAS).
• Strong verbal and written communication.
• Working as part of a team and under well-defined timelines.
• Ability to demonstrate openness and willingness to facilitate policy development.
• Ability to establish relationships with an array of professionals.