Chief Economist

Washington, D.C., The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) is the Washington, DC-based trade association representing the 35,000-company, $8.2 trillion wholesale distribution industry. This position reports to the Chief Innovation Officer and will build NAW’s Economic and Industry Intelligence capability within the Institute for Distribution Excellence. The Chief Economist is NAW’s lead economist and a hands-on builder. This individual will create the research foundation, recurring intelligence products, analytical methods, data practices and partnerships needed to help wholesale distributors make better decisions and to strengthen NAW’s ability to explain the economic importance of the industry. This is an entrepreneurial role in an established organization that is building a new capability. The successful candidate must be comfortable working without a large existing team or mature research infrastructure. During the initial phase, the Chief Economist will personally perform a meaningful share of the research, data analysis, forecasting, survey development, visualization and writing while also establishing repeatable processes that can support future staff and products. The position will work closely with NAW Government Relations, MDM Research and Editorial, MDM Analytics and Market Prospector, Events and Programs, Communications, Corporate Relations and external research partners, including universities and economic research firms. These relationships provide important capabilities, but NAW’s internal economist will own the questions, interpretation, research agenda and institutional knowledge. The ideal candidate combines applied economic and analytical skills with curiosity, initiative, sound judgment and a bias toward building. The ability to communicate findings clearly to executives, policymakers and colleagues is required; major external speaking and media visibility may grow as the practice and the individual develop. Job Responsibilities Build the Economic and Industry Intelligence Practice

Develops and executes a practical first-year workplan and multi-year roadmap for NAW’s economic research capability, aligned with member value, industry authority, policy influence and long-term financial sustainability. Builds the foundational research infrastructure, including a data-source inventory, analytical workflows, documentation standards, recurring production calendar, quality controls and clear ownership of methods and intellectual property. Creates a disciplined intake and prioritization process for recurring research, rapid-response analysis, policy requests, event support and potential paid projects. Manages the approved practice budget and external resources; supports the development of funding proposals, business cases and earned-revenue opportunities in partnership with the Chief Innovation Officer, Government Relations, Corporate Relations, and other NAW leaders. Assesses when work should be performed internally and when specialized modeling, data or capacity should be obtained from universities, research firms or other partners

Conduct Economic Research and Analysis

Personally gathers, cleans, analyzes and interprets economic, industry, labor, trade, policy and company-level data relevant to wholesale distribution. Develops economic outlooks and forecasts for wholesale distribution, its verticals, end markets and geographies, using internal analysis and well-governed external inputs. Connects macroeconomic conditions to distributor demand, revenue, volume, pricing, margins, inventory, labor, credit, working capital and capital investment. Designs and analyzes member surveys and begins developing proprietary assets such as a Distribution Business Conditions Survey, economic-impact measures or a future Distribution Leading Indicator. Supports and strengthens the economic assumptions used in NAW and MDM research, including MDM Analytics and Market Prospector applications, while respecting existing product and editorial ownership. Distinguishes observed data, modeled estimates and professional judgment; documents assumptions, limitations, revisions and data sources. Establishes practical forecast back-testing and model-review practices appropriate to the maturity and resources of the new function.

Create Member Intelligence and Research Products

Develops a manageable recurring cadence of member intelligence, which may include a monthly economic signals brief, quarterly outlooks, an annual distribution outlook and decision-oriented webinars or executive briefings. Translates analysis into clear implications, risks, scenarios and decision triggers for distributor executives rather than providing general economic commentary alone. Works directly with distributor leaders to understand the economic questions, indicators and forecast horizons that matter most to their businesses. Identifies and pilots paid, repeatable services such as Board briefings, planning workshops, sector or geographic outlooks, economic exposure maps and scenario analysis. Helps define the appropriate boundary between Institute research, NAW member benefits, commercial products and services offered through NAW Service Corporation. Measures member use, usefulness, repeat demand and willingness to pay, and recommends which products to scale, redesign, partner or discontinue.

Support Policy and Economic Impact Research

Partners with NAW Government Relations to assess the economic and operational effects of proposed federal and state policies affecting wholesale distribution; Government Relations owns advocacy positions and political strategy, while the economist owns the analytical evidence. Conducts or coordinates nonpartisan analysis concerning tariffs, taxes, labor, regulation, interest rates, infrastructure, trade, supply chains, technology and other NAW priorities. Builds policy-to-P&L analysis that connects government action to distributor costs, prices, demand, margins, investment, employment, customers and communities. Provides data, research and technical support for policy briefs, regulatory comments, testimony, policymaker meetings and state or congressional-district materials. Maintains transparent assumptions and analytical integrity, including when findings complicate or refine a preferred policy position.

Collaborate and Communicate

Works with NAW Research and MDM Editorial to translate economic findings into reports, articles and other content while respecting editorial independence. Partners with NAW Analytics and Market Prospector to connect economic conditions with product, end-market, account and geographic demand models. Supports NAW events, webinars, member communities, education, communications and AI-powered knowledge center, Nucleus with data, analysis and economic context. Prepares clear written analysis, charts, presentations and talking points for executives, Boards, members, policymakers and internal colleagues. Participates in panels, webinars, media conversations or external briefings when appropriate and well supported; high-profile keynote speaking is not an initial requirement. Builds productive relationships with universities, economic research firms, public statistical agencies, data providers and peer associations.

Initial Measures of Success

A credible first-year research agenda, publication cadence and project-prioritization process are established and delivered reliably. Core economic data sources, models, assumptions, partnerships, contracts and intellectual-property rights are inventoried and documented. Members receive practical economic intelligence that connects directly to distributor operating decisions. Government Relations receives timely, defensible analytical support for priority policy questions. At least one proprietary, longitudinal distribution research asset is designed or piloted. Initial paid products and funding opportunities are tested with clear evidence of demand, delivery effort and economics. A defined business and workload case exists for hiring a Data Analyst in Year 2. Requirements: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the job, as well as the education and experience requirements. Knowledge Skills and Abilities

Strong knowledge of applied economics, macroeconomics, industry analysis, forecasting, statistics and scenario development. Hands-on ability to source, clean, analyze and visualize data using appropriate statistical, spreadsheet, database or programming tools. Ability to translate complex economic and statistical analysis into clear business implications for executives and operators. Demonstrated builder mindset: resourceful, comfortable with ambiguity and willing to create processes, products and infrastructure personally before delegating them. Strong research, writing and presentation skills, with careful attention to methods, assumptions, accuracy and clarity. Curiosity about industrial, B2B, supply-chain and wholesale distribution markets and the ability to learn complex product and channel structures. Working knowledge of public data sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Federal Reserve and other relevant sources. Sound judgment regarding confidential member data, analytical independence, sponsored research, conflicts of interest and the appropriate use of modeled estimates. Ability to manage multiple recurring and rapid-response priorities without sacrificing quality or documentation. Collaborative style and the ability to work effectively across editorial, policy, data, events, fundraising and commercial teams.

Education and Experience

Master’s degree in economics, applied economics, econometrics, public policy, finance, data science or a closely related quantitative field, required; Ph.D. welcomed but not required. Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience in economic research, forecasting, market intelligence, policy analysis, consulting, data analytics or a related field preferred. Exceptional candidates with somewhat fewer years and strong evidence of building and applied analytical capability may be considered. Demonstrated experience producing economic or industry analysis for business, policy or executive audiences, required. Experience creating a new research product, analytical capability, data process, survey, index or client offering strongly preferred. Experience with trade associations, research institutes, economic consulting, industrial markets, B2B sectors, supply chains or wholesale distribution preferred. Experience supporting grant-funded, sponsored or fee-based research is helpful but not required.

Other Requirements Willingness and ability to perform hands-on analysis and production work during the practice’s initial build phase. Experience level, qualifications, skills and other job-related factors will determine the final salary level. The position also offers competitive benefits, including health and wellness coverage, a 401(k) plan, and other benefits for eligible employees.