Our organization:
The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) is the industry-funded regulator responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets.
The Advanced Research and Knowledge Management (ARKM) division leads a data and analytics program that supports data-driven, evidence-based, policy, operational, and business decisions. ARKM also leads the development of an education and training program that is unique to the ASC, focused on the skills and knowledge needed in a securities regulatory environment. It also serves as an expert internal resource for updates, research, and analysis on existing, increasing and emerging risks that require regulatory responses, and considers the impact of innovation in capital markets through technology testing.
The opportunity:
Reporting to the Director, ARKM, this newly created Senior Economist role will lead in developing high-quality empirical insights and data-driven analysis that support the ASC’s external publications, policy work, and internal decision-making. This highly collaborative position will ensure that research methods, results, and interpretations meet rigorous academic and peer-review quality standards. The successful candidate will also provide economic, statistical, and capital markets expertise to the ASC and participate in selected CSA and international working groups, strengthening the ASC’s research capability, thought leadership, and internal analytical standards.
This opportunity will appeal to creative, experienced, and self-motivated candidates who want to make a meaningful and visible impact and are motivated to create something new while helping shape both organizational decisions and broader policy formation through high-quality evidence-based economic research and analysis.
Key responsibilities include:
External publications and thought leadership
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Leading the development of external empirical publications, internal research projects, and serving as an author/co-author on ASC thought-leadership materials, with oversight from the Director, ARKM, and in collaboration with ARKM data experts, ensuring all work is aligned with the strategic direction and framework established by ASC Senior Management.
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Ensuring research deliverables and publications meet high standards for accuracy, rigour and academic or peer-review quality standards while adhering to timelines.
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Translating technical findings into clear summaries and visuals for external, internal and non-technical audiences.
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Collaborating and coordinating inputs from internal staff, subject matter experts, and other commissions.
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Producing and presenting relevant economic reports, briefings and trend updates for the Director, ARKM, senior management and committees.
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Monitoring emerging research, trends, and issues to inform and recommend future publication content.
Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)
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Supporting the implementation and integration of a fit-for-purpose ASC empirical CBA framework, ensuring statistical and econometric standards are applied consistently.
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Conducting internal empirical cost-benefit analysis on CSA and ASC policy projects, as directed by the Director, ARKM and senior management.
Research, economic analysis and policy support
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Conducting high-quality economic and statistical analyses, and providing specific subject-matter expertise to the ASC such as identifying and analyzing economic issues, trends, and innovations in the capital markets.
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Managing and analyzing public and private data, conducting timely research and policy support on relevant initiatives and projects.
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Undertaking empirical research functions and various ongoing international regulatory working or coordination groups including CSA, Heads of Regulatory Agencies, IOSCO and GFIN,
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Participating in academic and industry conferences and activities with external stakeholders to facilitate knowledge exchange around economics related topics.
The ideal candidate will possess:
- A PhD in Economics or Finance with five years of post doctoral experience is strongly preferred. (An equivalent combination of a graduate degree, research, and publication experience in a relevant quantitative discipline including STEM along with professional experience may be also considered).
- A proven track record of academic and/or industry publishing, including peer reviewed academic articles.
- Relevant professional experience, preferably in academia, think tanks, consulting, securities, capital markets, investment or the financial industry is highly preferred.
- Familiarity and experience with empirical cost benefit analysis models and methodologies.
- Experience in econometrics, statistical modelling, and predictive analytics.
- The demonstrated ability to collect, clean, transform, and visualize large datasets.
- Proficiency with data analytics and visualization tools such as Python, R, SQL, SAS, and Tableau.
- An understanding of experimental design, including choosing an appropriate methodology, identifying relevant data, collecting the data, data preparation, analysis, and report writing.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, concise insights for non-technical audiences.
- A commitment to teamwork, knowledge-sharing, capacity building, and the ability to influence without authority.
To apply, visit https://www.asc.ca/en/about-the-asc/careers. (See posting for details.)