Environmental Economist

The role

We’re looking for people who want to make a positive difference through the work they do.

For this current opportunity, we are looking for you to bring post-graduate tertiary qualifications in economics (or similar degree with a major component of economic studies) with complementary studies (eg environmental management) being well regarded.

You will have advanced environmental and/or natural resource economic skills. In particular, we are seeking people with experience in two or more of the following:

• Designing, implementing, and analysing stated and revealed preference surveys (e.g. choice modelling, contingent valuation, and travel cost) to establish community values for the environment to support policy decision making, and as part of regulatory price submissions.
• Designing, implementing, and evaluating natural capital markets. Including working with the likes of Councils, water businesses, and environmental Departments and regulators to develop offsets markets, auctions, and other market-based mechanisms.
• Designing and implementing natural capital accounts, particularly the monetary values in accounts, using the System of Environmental Economic Accounting (SEEA) framework https://eea.environment.gov.au/ across rural and urban landscapes and services.
• Conducting economic analyses, including benefit-cost analyses, across a range of environmental issues, including climate change, agriculture, and coastal issues.
• Preparing Plain English reports in ppt and word, and leading client briefings (e.g. presentations, policy briefings)
• Working with our team developing proposals for new work across clients.
• Whole of lifecycle project and client management

Who we are looking for

The diversity of our practice lines means you will also have the opportunity to grow and pursue other areas of interest as part of your work. Our teams enjoy the opportunities to undertake diverse, interesting, and impactful work, working with highly respected professionals.

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Applied statistical and economic analysis for natural capital
• Applied econometrics to designing and analysing stated and/or revealed preferences surveys
• Applied experience in developing environmental markets
• Applied experience in developing natural capital accounts
• Proven data management skills and programming skills in Stata and R
• Writing and presentation skills
• Teamwork and core values
• Consulting experience and delivery

About us

Marsden Jacob has grown over two decades from a single Melbourne office with two staff to a highly experienced team of over 35 professionals working across Australia. We are continuously learning and developing as a firm as we draw from the experiences, knowledge, and expertise of our staff, clients, and networks.

Our core principles and values include:

• We talk straight and honestly. We engage in regular constructive, open and honest two-way communication throughout the firm and with our clients. We talk with empathy and respect, supporting a positive workplace.
• We are highly collegiate and work on the merit of ideas and arguments, not rank.
• We recognise, celebrate, and communicate our successes. We strive to develop a culture that recognises and communicates the good efforts of our team.
• We value sustained, outcome-focused contributions to making Marsden Jacob a better place to work. We encourage staff to get in and create positive change by identifying opportunities and acting on them.
• We’re owned by our staff, with around half our team now owning equity. That means we set our own path as a team and choose who we work with and the work we do, rather than having targets set by a head office somewhere else.

Our Teams are involved in things like:

• Working with Commonwealth Government authorities and Expert Panels supporting national water reform, and balancing how water is allocated and managed between competing and complementary uses.
• Contributing to work that shapes Australia’s transition to clean energy, like Snowy Hydro 2.0, or being part of the market advisory team on Australia’s first waste-to-energy plant.
• Working with State and Commonwealth Governments to understand the nexus between climate change and water security, or climate change and coastal risks, and plan for future climate change risks and opportunities.
• Collaborating with State and Local Governments, water utilities, and other stakeholders planning and assessing the costs and benefits of investments in growth regions to ensure our future cities and regions are liveable and provide the services and environments that people want and value.
• Developing and helping implement practical and innovative market-based approaches for getting better environmental and community outcomes through natural capital markets, like stormwater offset schemes, and through innovative market-led approaches to environmental watering.
• Undertaking path-breaking analysis of the agricultural sector and agricultural productivity, and working with stakeholders to identify how our agricultural sector can lift performance, while also supporting sustainable landscapes and catchments.
• Working in expert teams undertaking economic modelling, litter and recycling modelling, and analysis of scheme design to support the development of circular economy and waste and litter reduction policies, like Container Refund Schemes.
• Developing new bespoke quantitative and mathematical models and analyses to support advisory work in energy and clean energy and undertaking analysis of Australian electricity and gas markets using our in-house energy market models.
• Undertaking commercial and financial analysis, designing commercial frameworks such as performance and payment arrangements.

How to apply

If this sounds like a role for you, we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

If you’d be interested in exploring this opportunity or have questions, we’re happy to talk. Please get in contact with Lisa Davidson on 0417 407 170 or email us at recruitment@marsdenjacob.com.au.

If you’re ready to apply, applications should be submitted via Seek. your application, please tell us:

• a bit about yourself.
• why you are interested in joining Marsden Jacob and what interests you about the position.

As this position is available immediately, we will be assessing applications as they are received. Applications not considered in this current round will be advised, and may be kept on file for future opportunities – please advise us if you do not wish for this to occur.