Economic Research Analyst Associate/Senior

Annual Salary Range: $95,035.00 - $179,130.00
First Review of Applications: November 13, 2025
Expected Start Date: December 2025

Overview of the Data Science Department

As a premier multi-modal planning and project implementation agency, SANDAG relies on the quality and capacity of our Data Science Department to deliver multi-disciplinary analytics and forecasting. The Data Science Department is tasked with formulating actionable insights and implementing valuable initiatives related to big data, open data, data analytics, and economic research.

The Data Science Department delivers data services that enhance the San Diego regional economy using descriptive and predictive data to help make informed policy decisions, while using an open data platform to improve transparency and share information with others.  

Role

We are seeking a skilled Economist to analyze financial, transportation, and socioeconomic data to identify trends and build predictive models that provide strategic insight and guide decision-making. 

This role combines economic theory, statistical analysis, and real-world data to forecast economic conditions and evaluate how policy and transportation infrastructure can impact the San Diego region. This position will perform research, analysis, and modeling on regional economic and fiscal issues that support activities and programs across the Agency, including Planning, Grants, Capital Projects, Finance and Transportation Modeling.  

The Economist will play a critical role in developing and maintaining tailored data-driven models that (1) support strategic and operational decision-making across the organization, and (2) pragmatically align with data availability and resource constraints. The methods will be grounded in established literature and focused on improving methodology and replicability through systematic enhancements and improved documentation.  

Expectations of this role include ability to: perform analysis with limited supervision; deliver high quality output in a timely manner; participate in the development, dissemination, and presentation of research findings; work in team environment; and approach projects with pragmatic curiosity and a “customer” focus.  

Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, mathematics, statistics, or a related field. Advanced degree in economics, econometrics or public policy is desirable.
• Minimum of three years of recent experience (for Associate Level) or five years of recent experience (for Senior Level) in applied economics or a related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of economic principles, modeling, and forecasting.
• Demonstrated experience performing analytical work, grounded in mathematical and statistical calculations. Descriptive and inferential statistics and econometric modeling (choice modeling, panel data regressions) is highly desirable.
• Strong programming skills (R, SQL, Python), and familiarity with GIS desirable. 

Benefits

SANDAG offers comprehensive benefits, to include health, dental, and vision insurance as well as employee assistance, wellness, and work/life balance programs. Additionally, SANDAG offers the following:

• Hybrid work options
• 9/80 flexible work schedule
• Pay-for-performance merit increases
• Retirement - Defined Benefit Plan with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Retirement - 457 Defined Contribution Plan with Voya
• Excellent health insurance options for employees and their eligible dependents
• Free dental and vision insurance for employees and their eligible dependents
• Education Assistance of up to $5,250 a year for regular employees
• Free transit pass for use throughout the San Diego region, bus, Rapid Express, Trolley, and COASTER
• Paid time off including 12 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, generous paid time off (PTO) per year, depending on length of service

Visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sandag? for more information.
First review November 13, 2025. EOE.