Deputy Director of Economic Forecasting and Tax Policy Analysis (#MFDZ13)
$92,525.00 Yearly Min / $115,656.00 Yearly Mid / $138,787.00 Yearly Max

Under the strategic direction of the Director, this position directs and provides expertise on the multifaceted and analytical operations of the Office. The position exercises independent judgment in managing staff, workflows, and analytical processes while operating within Director-established priorities and frameworks. Work requires extensive knowledge of economic modeling, economic data, the U.S. and state economies, and potential short and long-term impacts on the State. Contacts include agency leadership, appointed officials, the Office of the Governor, Delaware Economic and Financial Advisory Council (DEFAC), the General Assembly, and members of other financial and economic committees to ensure goals and objectives of the Office are met. This position frequently represents the Director on a variety of top-level financial matters impacting state government. 

The employee receives general direction and guidance from the Director of Economic Forecasting and Tax Policy Analysis in terms of broad goals and objectives, establishes the methods for achieving goals and objectives and directs the daily operations of the Office.

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series. These functions are not an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, employees can complete job duties of a similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Directs the daily, complex operations of a specialized economic and fiscal policy team, which includes developing, implementing, reviewing, and evaluating economic forecasting, tax policy analysis, and revenue modeling functions, and ensuring the delivery of forecasts, reports, and legislative analyses in accordance with statutory and executive timelines, goals, and objectives.


• Supervises a team of Economic/Fiscal Analyst and other support staff, which may include contractual staff. The elements of supervision include performing the following on a regular and continuing basis: planning, assigning, reviewing, evaluating, coaching, training, disciplining, and recommending hire, termination, and promotion.


• Directs the execution and technical quality of economic and fiscal analyses, including revenue forecasting, evaluation of tax proposals, and modeling the fiscal impacts of state and federal legislation. Responsible for preparing, reviewing, and ensuring the quality control of deliverables submitted for the Director’s approval.


• Provides advanced technical leadership in the design, development, and application of economic, financial, or econometric models, including statistical and forecasting models, and may directly conduct complex analyses to address high-risk issues or meet critical deadlines.


• Directs analytical review of tax policy proposals against statutory intent, distributional outcomes, and fiscal sustainability goals, and prepares technical recommendations and briefing materials for Director consideration.


• Accountable for overseeing data extraction, transformation, validation, and reporting processes using the state’s tax administration and budget systems to support forecasting and fiscal analysis.


• Develops, maintains, and enforces internal documentation, templates, and repeatable analytical processes for forecasting, legislative impact analysis, and economic reporting.


• Identifies analytical, data, and timing risks; ensures compliance with established methodologies and standards; and escalates issues that could affect forecast accuracy, statutory deadlines, or fiscal decision-making.


• Leads and is accountable for improvements in internal workflows, data management, and modeling tools to enhance efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and reproducibility in forecasting and analysis.


• Supports and may provide Director-level briefings to senior leadership, including the Secretary of Finance, DEFAC, legislative committees, and others.


• Serves as Acting Director when required and maintains operational continuity and staff supervision during Director absences.


• Performs other related duties as required.

The listed knowledge, skills, and abilities give a general indication of the core requirements for all positions in the class series; therefore, the KSAs listed are not exhaustive or necessarily inclusive of the needs of every position in the class.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and theories of economic modeling, revenue forecasting, and public finance at an expert, strategic level.
• Knowledge of state and federal tax structures, compliance systems, and legislative procedures at an expert, strategic level
• Skill in financial analysis, planning, forecasting, and policy administration at the State level.
• Skill in independently leading cross functional projects.
• Skill in using complex statistical modeling or other specialized computer software (e.g., EViews, R, Python, Excel, Stata).
• Ability to direct staff in the complex analysis and manipulation of large datasets, application of econometric methods, and development of reproducible models.
• Ability to plan, organize and integrate staff resources to achieve goals and objectives.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences through presentations, reports, and stakeholder discussions.
• Ability to interpret and analyze new or revised legislation, policies, or regulations and determine impact on financial operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with state, local and federal agencies, and various elected/appointed officials.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches to research, analyze and resolve complex economic challenges.
• Ability to exercise discretion and independent judgment with respect to matters of significance.

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

1. Possession of a Bachelors degree or higher in Public Administration, Economics, Business Management, Accounting, Finance, Public Policy or related field.
2. Two years’ experience in tax policy analysis, revenue forecasting, public finance, economic analysis, financial analysis, or related quantitative analytical work involving the evaluation of tax, fiscal, or economic issues and their real-world implications for government, businesses, or the public.
3. Two years’ experience in econometrics such as the application of mathematical and statistical techniques to economics in the study of problems, the analysis of data, and the development and testing of theories and economic models.
4. Two years’ experience in developing and implementing fiscal models, modernization tools, and/or enterprise data systems. 
5. Two years’ experience in presenting economic and financial analyses to committees or groups, or similar public speaking experience. 
6. One year of project leadership experience including defining, evaluating, leading, tracking and reporting on complex multi-resource projects.