Position applied for: Director, Russia Regional Forecasting Service Thank you very much for applying to The Economist Group. This document contains an application form and a job description for the advertised vacancy. Please save the application form to your hard drive and return the completed application form, CV and Covering Letter to recruitmentnine@economist.com Application form Position applied for: Name: Home telephone number: Mobile telephone number: E-mail Address: Address: Salary expectation Current or most recent salary: Salary expectation: Other details What is your current notice period? Are you British or a national of any EU country? If not, do you have the right to work in the UK and a current work permit? If so, please specify the details of your work permit, e.g. permit type, expiry. Disability Do you have a disability? Yes No If ‘yes’, please give brief details of the effects of your disability on your day to day activities, and any other information that you feel would help us to accommodate your needs and thus meet our obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995: Job Profile Job Title: Business Unit: Based: Reporting to: Jobs reporting in: Current job holder: Date prepared: Director, Russia Regional Forecasting Service EIU UK (London) André Astrow (line manager); Chris Pearce (forecasting); Laza Kekic (editorial) Editor, Russia Regional Forecasting Service; Econometrician, Russia Regional Forecasting Service; Sub editor, Russia Regional Forecasting Service New position 29/07/2008 Summary purpose of job To be responsible for the production and quality of the Russian Regional Forecasting Service, and to manage the Service team. To develop and improve the Service in line with clients' needs. To help form a consistent editorial line on Russia and its regions in conjunction with the editorial team in London. To commission, edit, and write a range of reports, interpreting and forecasting economic, political and regulatory developments within a given product brief across the regions and federal districts of Russia. Work with the editorial team in London to build and update a coherent view and a consistent set of forecasts for Russia's regions and contribute directly to the Russia Regional Forecasting Service. Key accountabilities Product management To develop and improve the service in line with clients needs. Recommend changes and additions to the service and work with marketing to assess the potential market for new ideas and analyse the costs and time required to produce them. To provide training and support for the sales team and promote the service at client events, conferences and seminars Management and scheduling To take line management responsibility for the members of the Service team. This will involve recruitment, training, coaching, conducting formal performance reviews and dealing with any disciplinary issues. To make recommendations regarding salaries and promotions, supported by relevant evidence of performance standards. To manage the distribution of the work within the UK-based team in a transparent fashion. Editorial line To help form a consistent editorial line on Russia and its regions in conjunction with the editorial team in London. To ensure that the editorial line is adhered to throughout the service through secondchecking and editing. Commissioning and managing contributors Responsible for finding suitable contributors and commissioning reports. Provide sufficient direction to the contributor to ensure the comprehensiveness and relevance of the manuscript. Manage the delivery of the content and provide constructive feedback to contributors. To assist in the selection of 3 contributors across the team and monitor the quality of existing contributors (and provide guidance on dismissing unsatisfactory contributors). Research Conduct the necessary background research to ensure the accuracy, timeliness and comprehensiveness of the reports. Develop information sources including newspapers, statistical sources, government departments, personal contacts and online databases. Conduct interviews with politicians, public officials and business representatives. Editing/writing Carry out a comprehensive first edit to ensure the reports adhere to the product brief and all the relevant information is presented within the word-lengths guidelines and with due reference to the EIU style guide. Write or re-write material where a contributor's original copy is substandard or incomplete. It is essential that all sources are properly referenced in line with company policy and copyright laws. Plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Responsible for the integrity and objectivity of the analysis and interpretation of events and information across the service. Ensure that reports are factually accurate, literate, internally consistent and customer focused. Reports are to be produced to a given production schedule and standard format. Respond fully to queries raised during the editorial process within the team and by the editorial team in London. Second checking Second check reports produced by fellow team members. Edited material should be checked for factual accuracy and sense checked for consistency, objectivity, coherence, conciseness and clarity and depth of analysis. Queries should be discussed with the originating editor with any unresolved issues being referred to the Editorial Director. Data and forecasts Produce economic and political forecasts making full use of all available information. Work with the econometrician, Russia Regional Forecasting Service (who will be responsible for running the economic models), to create a set of coherent and defensible data and forecasts. Ensure that the data and forecasts are consistent with the analysis within the reports. Team work Initiate and actively participate in discussions within the team to develop consensus views on Russia. Work closely with the Russia editorial team in the UK to build a coherent and consistent view on Russia and its regions and develop a defensible editorial line. Actively join in discussions on the implications of the EIU global assumptions and events impacting on the region. Participate in the development of consensus views for the region. Co-operate with fellow colleagues covering Russia to ensure consistency between reports. Client relationships Respond to client queries providing explanation and clarification regarding information contained in the published reports. Represent the Economist Intelligence Unit at conferences and seminars. Give interviews to media bodies such as television, radio or newspapers on behalf of the EIU. 4 Decision rights Editorial control over the content within the Russia Regional Forecasting Service (within product guidelines and adhering to the agreed editorial line) Hire and dismiss staff (subject to approval from Editorial Director) Allocation of work within the team Recommend salary increases and promotions for team members Control of local budgets for travel, contributors and other related expenses Find and commission contributors (and impose financial penalties or dismiss unsatisfactory contributors) The integrity and objectivity of the final published reports (subject to issues raised at second check being mutually agreed with the editorial team) Develop new information suppliers Sense checking to ensure accuracy, objectivity, clarity and depth Representation of the EIU at conferences and seminars Performance measures Quality of analysis across the service– positive customer feedback, media comment, peer and management review Ability to meet publishing deadlines across the team (tracked against the schedule) Well motivated team with demonstrable development of individuals Contribution to the development of the service Support of sales activities Training within the team Communication of analysis and the product to clients through the media or at conferences and seminars Skills and capabilities profile Education and training Previous work experience Knowledge IT Languages Personal attributes and skills Relevant degree in Economics, International Relations or related subject. Ideally Masters degree or PhD. Writing political and economic analysis on Russia for a business audience Producing economic forecasts Managing a team Detailed knowledge of Russia and its regions Knowledge of information sources and statistical suppliers in Russia Working knowledge of economic forecasting techniques and applied economics Understanding of the market for business intelligence in Russia Good/intermediate computer skills in Word, Excel, the Internet and using online databases English, Russian (both written and oral) Well-organised – able to schedule work across the team Excellent people manager, able to motivate and stimulate highly qualified individuals and build a strong and effective team Ability to maintain and defend the editorial line Personal pride in producing output of high quality and in developing the service Good time management skills and ability to work to deadlines Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to express complex ideas to a business audience A strong sense of client needs and the ability to deliver on these 5 6