Chief Economist; Manager II), Grade M2

Please Note
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The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $113,715 to $199,886, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Montgomery County is one of Maryland's outstanding places to live and work. With the largest population in Maryland at over one million residents and located near the Nation’s capital, the County is one of the most affluent jurisdictions in Maryland and the nation. Montgomery County has a strong and diverse economy, with the 4th highest concentration of biotech in the U.S., corporate headquarters to industry leaders like Novavax, Marriott, Geico, and Lockheed Martin, and home to 32 federal facilities.

Demographically, the County is approximately 42.9% white; 20.1% Hispanic or Latino; 20.1% Black or African American and 15.6% Asian. 91% of adult residents have at least a high school diploma while 57.8% hold a bachelor  or higher degree.

Montgomery County Department of Finance programs include Controller operations (AP, AR, Timekeeping & Payroll, General & Grants Accounting);
Fiscal Management (debt management, investing, cash management, economic development program administration, fiscal policy analysis and revenue and economic forecasting);
Treasury (tax billing and collection, and cashiering); and Risk Management (self- and commercial insurance, claims administration, and safety). These programs, including department-wide experts in information technology, human resources, contracting and budgeting, are managed by a team of professionals with a depth of government experience, and with industry expertise developed while working for Fortune 500 companies, bond rating agencies, investment banking, insurance, public accounting, academic institutions, governmental entities and financial and systems consulting.

Montgomery County Department of Finance is seeking an energetic and results-oriented Chief Economist (Manager II) to lead our economic analysis and tax revenue forecasting activities. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional technical, communication, and organizational skills, and the soft skills necessary to work effectively and successfully with others both internally and externally. Our managers demonstrate a high level of emotional intelligence evidenced by skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management, critical thinking, and the ability to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships.

This position is responsible for developing the economic assumptions used to formulate tax revenue forecasts for the County’s major tax revenues and providing supporting data including forecasts for key economic indicators; leading the development of Montgomery County’s tax revenue forecasting activities for the recommended operating and capital budgets, the 6-year fiscal plan, and the annual December fiscal plan update; and, in collaboration with team members, refine methodologies and models used to generate tax revenue forecasts.

The Chief Economist (Manager II) also leads Finance’s activities with the Revenue Estimating Group that was created by Chapter 20 Section 84 of County Code, including monitoring economic indicators and tax revenues throughout the fiscal year, building consensus on economic assumptions for the operating budget, and authoring quarterly reports and publishing monthly economic reports. Additional responsibilities include conducting fiscal impact analyses for recommended or enacted State, County and federal legislation, presenting County tax revenue and economic information to both internal and external constituents, consulting with Executive branch staff on economic policies and programs, providing economic and tax revenue data for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Annual Information Statement, and Bond Rating Agency presentations.

As the Chief Economist (Manager II) the incumbent will:

• Develop economic assumptions for the County Executive’s annual recommended operating and capital budgets based upon independent research as well as third-party provided economic forecasts. Forecast…