Senior Economist – Editorial Director of Data Insights

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Establish and take ownership of NerdWallet’s economic research and reports, encompassing annual studies, recurring indices, and unique investigations.

• Perform original quantitative analysis utilizing NerdWallet data, consumer surveys, federal statistics, and datasets from the private sector.

• Craft and interpret survey research, producing reports on new and pertinent topics.

• Create and disseminate commentary on significant data releases such as CPI, employment reports, FOMC, GDP, and housing statistics.

• Uphold editorial standards concerning methodology, sourcing, and writing quality.

• Collaborate with the Communications team to transform findings into engaging story angles.

• Maintain a proactive pipeline of data narratives linked to seasonal, cultural, and policy events.

• Discover unique insights within NerdWallet data and promote investment in them.

• Generate talking points, backgrounders, and methodology documents for journalists.

• Act as NerdWallet’s primary economic spokesperson across various media, including broadcast, print, digital, and podcasts.

• Cultivate relationships with reporters and producers.

• Establish a public presence on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, and LinkedIn.

• Represent NerdWallet at conferences, media dinners, and briefings with policymakers, partners, and executives.

• Lead, mentor, and edit a small team of data journalists.

• Manage the editorial calendar and uphold quality standards for data studies.

• Enhance economic and data literacy within the editorial team through training, guidelines, and coaching.

• Provide internal advice by linking macroeconomic conditions to audience and business trends.

• Report to the Director, Public Relations & Communications.

⛳️ Requirements

• Advanced degree in Economics, Statistics, Public Policy, or a related quantitative discipline; significant applied experience may substitute for a Master’s degree.

• Over 8 years of applied economics experience.

• A public portfolio of work, including published research, commentary, or analysis aimed at a general audience.

• Proven comfort as a quoted expert across various media platforms, including broadcast, podcast, print, or live events.

• Willingness and enthusiasm to appear on camera and foster a social media presence.

• Proficient quantitative skills in R or Python and SQL.

• In-depth knowledge of survey methodology, including sampling, weighting, question design, and margin of error.

• Awareness of the limitations of first-party behavioral data, such as selection bias, panel drift, and coverage gaps.

• Outstanding writing abilities.

• Familiarity with AI tools for research, coding, and analysis.

• Experience in editing and mentoring, or demonstrable capability in doing so.

• Existing media relationships are a notable advantage.

• Must reside in the U.S. and possess legal authorization to work in the United States.

🏝️ Benefits

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision healthcare plans for employees and their dependents.

• Rejuvenation Policy – Flexible Vacation Time Off plus 11 holidays and a holiday company shutdown.

• New Parent Leave for employees welcoming a newborn child or adopting a child or foster care placement.

• Mental health support services.

• Paid sabbatical after five years of service.

• Health and Dependent Care FSA and HSA Plan with a monthly contribution from NerdWallet.

• Monthly stipends for wellness, cell phone, and Wi-Fi expenses.

• Stipend for work-from-home equipment and a subsidy for co-working spaces.

• Employee Resource Groups to foster inclusivity.

• Hackathons and team-building events.

• Company-wide events such as NerdLove and the annual Charity Auction.

• Eight hours of volunteer time off each quarter with a company match.

• 401K plan with a 4% company match.

• Financial wellness resources, guidance, and unlimited access to a Certified Financial Planner through Northstar.

• Disability and Life Insurance with premiums covered by the employer.

• Equity offered to employees.