Montgomery County, Maryland, Hiring Chief Economist to Drive Economic Strategy

Montgomery County, Maryland, is seeking a highly qualified Chief Economist to lead its economic analysis and tax revenue forecasting activities. This role is pivotal in shaping the county’s fiscal policy and economic development initiatives, leveraging Montgomery County’s position as a major economic hub in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.

Economic Landscape of Montgomery County

Montgomery County boasts a strong and diverse economy, ranking fourth in the nation for its concentration of biotechnology companies . The county is home to major corporate headquarters, including Novavax, Marriott, Geico, and Lockheed Martin, as well as 32 federal facilities. As of recent data, the county’s population exceeds one million residents, with a demographic breakdown of approximately 42.9% White, 20.1% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Black or African American, and 15.6% Asian.

The highly educated workforce, with 91% of adult residents holding at least a high school diploma and 57.8% possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher, contributes significantly to the county’s economic vitality.

Responsibilities of the Chief Economist

The Chief Economist (Manager II) will be responsible for:

• Developing economic assumptions for the County Executive’s annual recommended operating and capital budgets.
• Forecasting key economic variables, including property assessable base, employment, personal income, population, inflation, and net taxable income.
• Leading the development of tax revenue forecasts for major revenue streams, such as property tax, income tax, fuel/energy tax, and transfer/recordation taxes.
• Publishing monthly economic reports highlighting key drivers of the county’s economy and tax revenue.
• Leading Finance’s work with the Revenue Estimating Group (REG), monitoring economic indicators, and recommending changes to economic assumptions.
• Conducting fiscal impact analyses of proposed State, County, and Federal legislation.
• Consulting with Executive branch staff on economic development programs and policies.
• Presenting economic and revenue briefings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintaining relationships with State, regional, and local peers to share economic information.

Qualifications

Candidates must have seven years of progressively responsible professional experience as a leading economist or revenue forecaster for a municipal government with a large budget, with at least three years in a supervisory or executive capacity. A bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Administration, Business Administration (with a concentration in Economics), Finance (with a concentration in Economics), or a related field is required. A master’s degree or PhD in one of these fields is preferred.

Recent Economic Developments

Recent economic activity in Montgomery County includes Novavax’s shift away from manufacturing, with the company handing off its Gaithersburg facility to AstraZeneca for $59.8 million . Yet, Novavax previously announced plans to add at least 400 new jobs to the county in 2020 , and in October 2024, the FDA approved the 2024-2025 Novavax COVID-19 vaccine .

Salary and Application Information

The salary range for the Chief Economist position is $113,715 to $200,829 annually. The position is currently open, and interested candidates can find more information and apply through the Montgomery County Government website: .