Research Assistant Professor (Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise)

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Established in 1985 by Frank Hawkins Kenan, the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise is a nonpartisan business policy think tank affiliated with the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. The nonprofit institute and its affiliated centers convene leaders from the private sector, academic community and government to build a greater understanding of how entrepreneurship, economic development and global commerce can work for the public good. The institute leverages best-in-class research to develop market-based solutions to today's most complex economic challenges. In doing so, the institute aims to support businesses and policies that better the lives of people in North Carolina, across the country and around the world.

The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise (the Institute) seeks a Research Assistant Professor with expertise in applied economics, economic forecasting, regional economics, labor economics, public policy, or a related field to contribute to the North Carolina Advanced Economic Forecasting Initiative. The faculty member will conduct and disseminate research that advances understanding of North Carolina's county, regional, and state economies, with particular emphasis on economic forecasting, labor markets, workforce development, housing affordability, industry trends, population change, productivity, and other issues relevant to economic development and public policy. The successful candidate will develop and communicate economic forecasts and analytical products, produce scholarly and public-facing research, and translate complex economic data into actionable insights for policymakers, business leaders, community stakeholders, and the public. The faculty member will collaborate with Institute colleagues, faculty affiliates, research staff, students, and external partners to support evidence-based decision making and advance the Institute's mission of connecting research to practice.

The Research Assistant Professor will serve as a research economist for the North Carolina Advanced Economic Forecasting Initiative at the Institute, supporting the development, production, interpretation, and communication of county-level economic forecasts and related data products for all 100 North Carolina counties. The position carries economist-level responsibility for assigned forecasting workstreams, economic indicator development, forecast production support, applied economic interpretation, written research products, and stakeholder-facing analysis.

The Research Assistant Professor will work under the direction of the Senior Research Economist and in close collaboration with the Executive Director, Director of Research Data Strategy and Analytics, data analysts, communications staff, faculty affiliates, and other Institute teams. The position will support the implementation of forecasting methods, evaluation of model performance, documentation of assumptions, preparation of forecast releases, and identification of emerging economic issues that require additional county-level analysis.

The role will focus on applied economic research related to North Carolina's county, regional and state economies, including topics such as GDP, employment, labor markets, workforce skills demand, housing affordability, industry trends, population change, productivity, business formation, and other indicators relevant to economic development and public policy. The Research Assistant Professor will exercise independent judgment in analyzing economic trends, explaining forecast movements, identifying data anomalies, and preparing written and presentation materials for both technical and nontechnical audiences.

The successful candidate will bring strong quantitative, econometric, programming, writing and communication skills; experience working with economic and regional datasets; and the ability to help move the North Carolina Advanced Economic Forecasting Initiative from model development into a reliable recurring production, reporting, and stakeholder-support function.

This position is contingent upon the continued availability of funding.

The position requires a Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Economics, Financial Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.

It is preferred that the successful candidate will possess:

- Experience developing, maintaining or improving forecasting models, nowcasts, economic indicators, dashboards or recurring data products.
- Experience with county-level, regional, state or local economic data.
- Experience with data sources such as BEA, BLS, Census, ACS, QCEW, LAUS, Haver, Lightcast, Zillow, Freddie Mac, state administrative data or similar sources.
- Experience analyzing GDP, employment, wages, productivity, industry trends, housing affordability, workforce skills, capital formation, business formation or other economic indicators.
- Experience producing written economic commentary, research briefs, dashboard narratives, policy memos, technical documentation, presentations or public-facing research products.
- Experience coordinating research pipelines, managing model update cycles, documenting procedures or training analysts on technical workflows.
- Familiarity with North Carolina's economy, regional differences, rural and urban economic development issues, workforce trends, housing markets or local government decision-making.
- Experience working in a university, think tank, government, policy, economic development, consulting, financial or applied research environment.
- Ability to balance technical rigor with practical usability for policymakers, economic developers, business leaders and community stakeholders.

Applicants may view the job posting and follow the application process to be considered at: https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/323916.

Applicants should submit a Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae/Resume, and Writing/Research Sample. At the time of hire, the selected applicant should be prepared to arrange submission of two (2) signed letters of recommendation, on institutional letterhead, from individuals not affiliated with the Kenan-Flagler Business School.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.