Senior Economist
Christensen Associates is looking for a full-time Senior Economist to join our United States Postal Service (USPS) practice. This role will subsume existing productivity models and assist in their continued development. A successful candidate will need to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients to strike a balance between theoretical and empirical issues with the practical demands of working within existing methods, regulatory constraints and data availability. This person will need to interact with regulators and lawyers and have an ability to explain theoretical results to a broad audience.
Candidates must be willing and able to work at our Madison, Wisconsin office. This is not a remote position.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. for any employer. We are unable to sponsor individuals for a work visa or other employment authorization at time of hire or in the future (e.g., F-1 visa, STEM OPT extension, H-1B, green card).
Key Responsibilities:
- Regular production of reports for client
- Working with a team to maintain and extend an existing model in line with theoretical considerations.
- Big picture evaluation of model output to explain results to clients and ensure computational accuracy.
- Use advanced knowledge and understanding of project requirements to identify, collect, transform and validate necessary data
- Publish data in a meaningful way to relevant stakeholders
- Troubleshoot data issues as they arise
- Take lead on projects from conception to completion
- Building strong client relationships through timely responses and proactive issue resolution
Qualifications:
- 3+ years’ experience as economist with data analysis experience
- PhD in economics with record of academic or private sector production
- Demonstrates analytical and technical ability at an advanced level and is able to solve complex problems independently.
- Strong attention to detail shown in the thoroughness, quality, and accuracy of work produced.
- Strong organizational and communication (verbal, written, presentation) skills. A record of professional paper production (published or unpublished) and professional presentations at conferences or seminars.
- Able to work independently and as part of a team in a deadline-driven environment while handling multiple competing priorities. Shows a sense of urgency in completing work and is willing to pitch in to help others when needed.
- Experience in Stata. Amenable to learning or reading other statistical languages.
- While the role is largely regular business hours, may require infrequent work outside of normal hours to meet deadlines.
Why you should join our team:
- Meaningful work – You’ll work alongside highly experienced experts to solve complex, real‑world problems using creativity, scientific rigor, and deep institutional knowledge. Our small teams and our flat organizational structure allow us to prioritize quick, direct contact with clients, allowing you to build relationships, understand client needs, and see the results of your work in real time.
- Our ESOP sets us apart – Working at an employee-owned company means you’re more than just an employee, you’re an owner. Through the ESOP, you build real equity over time at no out-of-pocket cost, turning your everyday work into long-term financial growth. As the company succeeds, so do you. ESOPs also foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and shared purpose, because everyone has a stake in the outcome. The result is a more transparent, motivating, and rewarding place to grow your career while building meaningful wealth for the future.
- Total rewards package – We offer health, dental, vision, life/AD&D, long-term disability, a 401(k), and a generous ESOP contribution that grows as we grow. You’ll also receive paid holidays, vacation, sick, and personal time. We offer minimal travel, a casual dress code, private offices, and amenities like underground parking. Flexible schedules and comp time for hours over 40 support a healthy balance between work and life.
Please include your resume, cover letter, and job market paper or other academic paper when applying.
