Manager (Urban and Real Estate Economist)

Job description

the employer is seeking an experienced Senior Urban and Real Estate Economist to join its Advisory team in the Middle East. The role provides economic, demographic and real estate market analysis to support development advisory, urban planning, master planning and infrastructure planning assignments. The candidate will translate population, household, employment and sector growth forecasts into spatial and real estate requirements, including land‑use demand, asset mix, housing and employment needs, social infrastructure, development capacity, phasing and investment priorities. Work will be conducted within multidisciplinary teams alongside development advisors, urban planners, master planners, real estate specialists, infrastructure planners, engineers, transport specialists, GIS professionals and financial advisors

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Real Estate Economics, Urban Economics, Economic Geography, Regional Science, Urban Planning or related discipline
• Master’s degree in Urban Economics, Real Estate, Economics, Development Economics, Economic Geography, Urban Planning or related field preferred
• typically +8 years of relevant experience
• experience in urban economics, real estate economics, development advisory, socio‑economics or related consulting discipline
• demonstrable ability to translate economic and demographic forecasts into spatial and real estate requirements
• experience supporting master plans, development strategies, regional plans, regeneration programmes or major real estate developments
• experience in real estate market assessment and demand forecasting across one or more asset classes
• good understanding of the relationship between economic growth, population, employment, land use, real estate markets and infrastructure
• strong quantitative, forecasting and analytical capability
• advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• experience with GIS, statistical analysis or data‑visualisation tools desirable
• experience in UAE, KSA or wider GCC strongly preferred
• consultancy, development authority, planning agency, real estate advisor or government organisation experience advantageous
• strong analytical and problem‑solving capability
• ability to connect economic and real estate analysis with planning, development and investment decisions
• excellent written communication, report‑writing and presentation skills
• ability to communicate complex analysis clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences
• strong attention to detail and commitment to analytical quality
• commercial awareness and market understanding.

Skills