Introduction

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the global standard in providing strategic information to business leaders in understanding the issues of doing business in over 200 countries. EIU\xe2\x80\x99s expertise in country analysis, macroeconomic principles and forecasting methodologies has provided decision makers with critical information since 1946. EIU\'s Public Policy, Economics and Politics (PPEP) practice, part of EIU Consulting, provides evidence-based research for governments, corporations, NGOs and foundations working in the public arena on critical development and economics issues.

Currently we are seeking a Senior Consultant in our PPEP practice who will work with the Regional Director and the rest of the research team to grow our Consulting business across the Middle East region. This will include working with the sales team to promote our research capabilities, as well as working directly with clients to define and deliver their requirements. The Consulting Analyst will manage a number of client projects in the Middle East and potentially elsewhere, providing their own research input as well as managing contributions from inside the Economist Intelligence Unit and from external researchers. This will include project management responsibility for single client and multi-client research projects being delivered for clients.

Accountabilities

In the role you would be expected to:

• Manage workshops at client locations and train clients in capacity building activities
• Deliver research inputs and report preparation to client projects in EIU Consulting, including public policy assessments, economic analysis, benchmarking, data collection, interpretation, and presentations
• Directly manage individual research projects, dealing with all aspects of project delivery such as writing, editing, cost control, client relations and contributor management
• Present interim project status and final project deliverables to clients
• Work with the PPEP sales team and consulting colleagues in the Middle East to prepare scoping documents and proposals for potential clients, meet with customers, help to interpret their research requirements and design research methodologies
• Help identify new areas of business for EIU PPEP, based on our skills and experience in benchmarking, policy briefings, development isssues, political and economic analysis, risk assessment, and economic analysis.
• Assist in training sales and editorial colleagues in the demonstration of our capabilities to clients
• Develop methods and approaches for research that will help to scale up the PPEP consulting business and to ensure consistent quality of output
• Work with Country Analysts and other parts of the Economist Intelligence Unit to secure their input to consulting projects and their support in product development
• Help build and manage a network of external contributors to be employed in delivering consulting projects
• Deliver projects to strict deadlines and within budget, ensuring achievement of agreed revenue and contribution targets for own projects
• Maintain effective relationships with other parts of the Economist Intelligence Unit, including Sales, Country Analysis, and Thought Leadership

Experience, skills and professional attributes

To succeed in the role you must have:

• Prior work in management consulting, including working with clients in their offices on capacity building activities
• Prior experience developing a Business Development pipeline and bringing sales opportunities to closure
• Relevant degree in Public Policy, Economics, International Relations or a related subject; Masters degree in related field is desired
• Very strong knowledge of the Middle East and governments there, especially Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) governments
• Client management experience
• Staff and/or vendor management experience
• Experience dealing with and presenting to senior-level executives
• Good understanding of international business, industry and geopolitical issues

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent business, economics, research and writing skills
• Prior experience managing client workshops and conducting client training sessions on-site
• Good understanding of public policy, development economics and regulatory issues
• Strong Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Access skills
• Excellent English and business language fluency
• Outstanding project management track record
• Good communication and presentation skills
• Comfort with both clients and the sales force
• Confidence and diplomacy skills to handle unfamiliar topics and difficult clients
• Business maturity, self-starter qualities with the discernment to balance commercial considerations with high standards of editorial integrity and analytical capability
• Ability to work on complex projects under tight time frames
• Thorough awareness of the Economist Intelligence Unit\xe2\x80\x99s brand values, notably editorial independence

Skills and capabilities profile:

Education and training

• Relevant degree in Business, Economics, International Relations or related subject
• Experience in the Middle East or with Middle East-related issues is essential
• Masters degree in related field desired

Previous work experience

Prior work in consulting, market intelligence, business and political analysis, especially in the Middle East

• Conducting and management of client workshops and other capacity building activities
• Staff and/or vendor management experience

Experience dealing with and presenting to senior-level executives

Knowledge

Excellent business, economics, research and writing skills

• Good understanding of public policy, industry and geopolitical issues

IT

Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel and Access

Languages

Excellent English

• Fluency in Arabic a plus

Personal attributes and skills

Very organised with an outstanding project management track record

Good communication and presentation skills

Comfortable and articulate with both clients and the sales force

Confidence and diplomatic skills to handle unfamiliar topics and difficult clients

Mature, enthusiastic self-starter with the discernment to balance commercial considerations with high standards of editorial integrity and analytical capability

Capable of working on complex projects under tight time frames

Thorough awareness of the Economist Intelligence Unit\xe2\x80\x99s brand values, notably editorial independence

The Economist Group