Job Profile

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Position applied for: Director, Russia Regional Forecasting Service
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Job Profile
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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
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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
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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.
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Decision rights
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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
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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
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Previous work experience
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Knowledge
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IT
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Languages
Personal attributes and
skills
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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
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