The Senior Analyst will be involved in macroeconomic and financial modelling for the Indian economy, within the Mitigation domain of the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability sector. The candidate will work at the intersection of climate science, energy systems engineering, and economics. The candidate will also contribute to the development, calibration, and application of integrated energy-macroeconomic models—combining various relevant modelling methodologies—to assess the macro-financial impacts of climate policy in India and determine how best to fund the clean energy transition. The role will involve contributing to national climate strategies using CSTEP's SAFARI model, presenting at leading national and international forums (e.g., COP), gaining visibility through media and academic publications, and engaging directly with senior government officials.
Responsibilities
- Develop and implement macroeconomic models to analyse the interactions between the real economy, financial sector, and climate policy interventions.
- Construct and maintain accounting matrices (balance sheets, transaction flow matrices, etc) and ensure rigorous stock-flow consistency in all modelling exercises.
- Explore the behaviour of different macroeconomic sectors (e.g. households, firms, government, and financial institutions), assess the factors affecting their decision-making, and formalise the insights for incorporating into the model based on empirical data and relevant economic theory.
- Integrate real and financial sector dynamics, including multiple financial assets/liabilities and sectoral feedback, within the modelling framework.
- Simulate policy scenarios, shocks, and alternative 'possible worlds' and analyse results to inform climate and economic policy.
- Communicate complex modelling results and policy implications to technical and non-technical audiences.
- Communicate with external agencies for data requests; scan websites of government agencies and economic institutions to keep track of the latest developments/announcements in macroeconomic policy and database publications.
- Engage with national and international experts to reinforce macroeconomic modelling capacity and enhance collaborative learning.
- Perform outreach duties by conducting stakeholder consultations on modelling analyses.
Qualifications
MA/MSc in Economics, Environmental Economics, Ecological Economics, Macroeconomics, or Financial Economics, with a strong foundation in applied macroeconomics and 4 years of experience, or PhD in similar fields
Experience
At least 4 years of hands-on experience working with different types of macroeconomic models and datasets typically used in them
Skill Set
Essential:
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Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with prior modelling experience
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Applied knowledge in Environmental Economics, Energy Economics, Macroeconomics, or Econometrics
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Experience conducting extensive literature reviews
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Ability to synthesise and interpret large datasets
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Critical thinking skills, with the ability to systematically interpret data and contribute to innovative research methodologies
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Working knowledge of at least one programming language — preferably Julia, Mathematica, or R
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Good understanding of climate finance and development economics
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Ability to work independently, while being open to collaboration and learning in a respectful, team-oriented environment
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Ability to manage multiple projects efficiently
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Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
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A strong sense of curiosity to explore new frontiers in modelling and research, along with the independence to drive your own ideas
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Excellent communication skills
Preferred:
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Experience working with computable general equilibrium (CGE) models
- Experience with system dynamics or agent-based modelling, preferably using Stella or Vensim
Location
Bengaluru
How to apply
Please send an email to careers@cstep.in with the subject ‘Application: Senior Analyst (Economist) - Climate Change Mitigation’ and attach a copy of your updated CV, as well as a cover letter.
In the cover letter, please address the following: Imagine you are tasked with building a new macroeconomic modelling community in India from the ground up. What unique perspectives, skills, or experiences would you bring to this effort (provide examples from previous experience if relevant), and what gaps or opportunities do you see for advancing macroeconomic modelling to better support India’s climate and development goals? Feel free to highlight unconventional approaches, interdisciplinary ideas, or emerging tools and methods you believe could make a difference.
Optional assignment (max 800 words): Briefly explain the key concepts underlying mainstream macroeconomic theory (such as growth, efficiency, and equilibrium) and discuss one major limitation of these approaches when applied to climate policy, especially where development needs and climate action may conflict.