Head, Economic & Market Research

Role Overview

This is a senior leadership position for an economist who wants to shape how an entire banking group interprets and responds to the economic environment. Day to day, you will run a research function that produces forecasts, sector studies and risk assessments, then translate them into decisions that committees, business lines and executives can act on immediately. The role matters because the organisation treats economic evidence as an input to planning rather than an afterthought — your work determines how confidently the business prices, lends, invests and enters new markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the research agenda. Define the department's strategic priorities so that analytical output speaks directly to organisational goals and to what customers actually need.
• Embed research in planning cycles. Position analysis as a standing input to annual budgeting, quarterly product reviews and other recurring decision points, so major commitments rest on empirical evidence rather than assumption.
• Own the macroeconomic forecast. Direct the construction, validation and upkeep of econometric models covering GDP, inflation, interest rates and foreign exchange, and stand behind the numbers the institution uses.
• Build market and consumer intelligence. Establish a monitoring capability that tracks consumer health indicators, frameworks for assessing business financial health, and emerging market shifts — and convert those signals into segmentation and engagement insight.
• Lead sector deep dives. Commission and oversee detailed studies of priority industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and energy, identifying risks, opportunities and the specific commercial implications for the business.
• Run scenario planning. Develop structured narratives around alternative economic paths so leadership teams can anticipate volatility rather than react to it.
• Support internal decision-making bodies. Supply research and risk assessment to the Assets and Liability Committee, Credit Committees and Global Markets, including models that simulate how differing economic conditions affect product demand, credit risk and portfolio resilience.
• Tailor output to the audience. Deliver executive-level risk briefings, pricing signals for Retail Banking, market-entry analysis for Corporate Banking teams and other formats matched to each stakeholder group.
• Represent the institution externally. Serve as a public spokesperson with media, policy think tanks and international bodies such as the IMF and World Bank, reinforcing the bank's reputation as a thought leader, while coordinating across functions and Group subsidiaries to serve both institutional and retail investor audiences.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Economics or Financial Economics from a recognised university.
• At least eight years of relevant experience in economic research and macroeconomic analysis.
• Within that experience, at least six years of progressive people management and leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated company and/or macroeconomic modelling work, including valuation methodologies.
• A track record of presenting at economic fora or advocacy engagements.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with stakeholders across a wide range of seniority and backgrounds.
• Professional qualifications in financial or statistical analysis are an added advantage.
• A Master's degree in Economics is an added advantage.
• Experience in market and consumer intelligence analytics is an added advantage, as is proficiency with econometric or statistical tools such as STATA, R, Python, Power BI or Tableau.