Associate Professor or Full Professor of Applied Economics and Minnesota State Economist

About the Job

Associate Professor or Full Professor of Applied Economics and Minnesota State Economist. Located in the Department of Applied Economics, Twin Cities Campus, University of Minnesota, and in Minnesota Management and Budget, St. Paul, Minnesota. This is a tenured faculty position. We are seeking one candidate for this role, which is cross-posted as both a Tenured Faculty and a Contract Faculty position, serving as Minnesota State Economist.

Rank and appointment type are flexible based on the successful candidate's experience.

Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) is the state agency responsible for managing the state’s financial and human resources. Within MMB, the State Economist oversees the work products of the Economic Analysis Team. The State Economist collaborates with this team to produce the state’s twice-yearly economic and revenue forecasts. The team forecasts the major sources of general fund tax revenue—the income, sales, and corporate taxes—among others.

These forecasts set the baseline for the state’s biennial budget decision making and provide estimates for the adjustments necessary to keep the budget in balance. The team also publishes statutorily mandated reports each year. The State Economist briefs the governor, legislators, the media, and the state’s bond rating agencies on the economic and revenue forecasts and serves as MMB’s spokesperson on Minnesota’s economy.

• University Teaching – Applied Economics (APEC) (10%)
• Teach one half-semester-length course (or the equivalent) yearly in the Department of Applied Economics, as assigned by the Department Head. The teaching load is negotiable and can vary over time as conditions warrant.
• Applied Research (15%)
• Develop a nationally or internationally recognized research program related to applied economics. This includes publishing articles in leading peer-reviewed journals, obtaining research grants, and advising graduate and undergraduate research.
• Minnesota State Economist (75%)
• Fulfill the duties of the State Economist as listed in the governing contract between the University and MMB, including but not limited to: oversee the production of the state’s twice-yearly economic and revenue forecasts; forecast state economic variables and revenues; write and edit the economy and revenue sections of the Budget and Economic Forecast report and presentation; brief government officials, the media, and others on the forecasts.
• Provide leadership and vision for the Economic Analysis Team in collaboration with the director of the state team; ensure the quality of models, forecasts, analyses, reports, and presentations.
• Oversee the production of statutorily mandated reports, including monthly reports on state tax receipts and quarterly revenue and economic updates.
• Serve as the economic spokesperson for MMB and state government by making public speaking engagements and engaging with the media upon request.
• The incumbent is an employee of the University of Minnesota and is subject to its rules. The department head evaluates the incumbent’s performance in collaboration with the Commissioner or Commissioner Designee of Minnesota Management and Budget.
• This position is not eligible for H-1B visa sponsorship or Green Card sponsorship.
• If the selected candidate cannot fulfill the obligations as State Economist and is a tenured faculty member, the position may convert to a 100% 9-month faculty position in Applied Economics with a 50% research and 50% teaching expectation, subject to final approval by the Head of Applied Economics.

July 1, 2026 or thereafter, negotiable.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in economics, applied economics, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of relevant work experience.
• Evidence of high-quality written and oral communication skills for professional and non-professional audiences.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and management skills.
• Research experience in economics, applied economics, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of high-quality research and potential for publication in peer-reviewed field journals and general-interest journals in…