Research and Development Manager

Rider Levett Bucknall RLB; Melbourne; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexibility

Employee events

Learning & development support

Awards program

Job summary

A leading global property consultancy in Melbourne is seeking a highly analytical property economist to provide strategic insights into the built environment. This full-time role involves conducting economic research, developing market forecasts, and engaging with industry stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have relevant degrees and extensive experience in economic analysis. Join a diverse team dedicated to making progress in communities.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in an economist or analyst role.
• Strong understanding of macroeconomic indicators and their applications.
• Experience in statistical software and industry datasets.
• Strong understanding of macroeconomic indicators and their business applications.
• Familiarity with construction cost structures, supply chains and planning policy.
• Experience with industry datasets (ABS, RBA, CoreLogic) and statistical tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to present to non-technical audiences.
• Public speaking for industry forums and B2B events.
• Strong time management, attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Collaborative and cross-office coordination.

Responsibilities

• Conduct economic research and market analysis for construction industries.
• Develop sector-specific forecasts for construction activity.
• Monitor global trends in construction markets and provide insights.
• Monitor indicators (building approvals, CPI, PPI, housing starts, wages, CAPEX).
• Provide insights from global/regional trends and prepare industry reports and briefings.
• Support marketing with data-driven publications and board papers.
• Engage with clients, industry bodies, government agencies and regulators.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Economic theory

Public speaking

Time management

Problem-solving

Public speaking

Time management

Collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

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At Rider Levett Bucknall, we are in the business of making progress happen. We believe that when we bring together people doing the right things in the right way, we make progress for both our clients and our communities. Our vision is to be the leading independent global property and construction consultancy.

RLB operates in 34 countries with more than 4,500 different, diverse and amazing people around the world. Our major service areas across Australia are Cost Management and Quantity Surveying, Advisory, Project Programming and Program Management and Sustainability and Carbon Solutions.

RLB has a long tradition of delivering expert advice on some of the country’s most iconic projects, including the Sydney Opera House, Queens Wharf Brisbane and Melbourne Park Precinct. We have approximately 500 people working together to make progress happen. We believe that when we bring together the right people doing things the right way, we make progress for our clients and our communities.

Our four values unite us globally, across diverse backgrounds & cultures by guiding how we support one another & work with our clients.

Truth: We speak the truth

Trust: We build for the long term

Together: We look out for each other

Tomorrow: We work to do good

Careers at RLB:

For over 240 years, at RLB we’ve focused on bringing together the right people and doing things the right way. We’re looking for people who share our passion and ambition and want to be part of a diverse workforce embracing new ideas to shape the future of our built environment.

We have a supportive team and offer exceptional benefits to our people including flexibility, employee events, learning & development support, employee awards program among other benefits (these benefits will vary from state to state).

If you're passionate about contributing to the progress of our communities, RLB offers the opportunity to realise your potential and build a thriving career in Australia and globally.

The Role:

We are seeking a highly analytical and commercially minded property economist to join our team with a dedicated focus on the built environment, construction and infrastructure sectors. In this role, you will provide strategic economic insights and monitor market trends through data-driven analysis of industry conditions, policy developments, supply chain dynamics, and cost drivers.

Reporting to the Director, Oceania Research & Development, you will be responsible for the management of our R&D Research Analyst. This role involves managing & maintaining a global set of information & internal data libraries, overseeing development & upgrades of RLB’s digital tools and the preparation of reports, presentations & board papers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct economic research and market analysis related to the construction and infrastructure industries.
• Develop sector-specific forecasts (e.g., construction activity, labour trends, materials pricing, housing demand).
• Analyse the impact of government policy, interest rates, inflation, and trade conditions on construction markets.
• Maintain and interpret economic indicators such as building approvals, CPI, PPI, housing starts, wage data, and capital investment trends.
• Monitor global and regional trends in construction markets and provide actionable insights.
• Provide thought leadership and prepare regular industry reports, presentations, economic briefings, and whitepapers to support RLB marketing in business-to-business activities and industry forums
• Engage with external stakeholders including clients, industry bodies, government agencies, and regulators.

Key Attributes:

We’re looking for an experienced publications manager who has:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, Econometrics, or a related field.
• Minimum [5+] years’ experience in an economist or analyst role, ideally with a focus on the construction, infrastructure, or property sectors.
• Strong understanding of economic theory, macroeconomic indicators, and their application to real-world business decisions.
• Familiarity with construction cost structures, industry supply chains, labour market dynamics, and planning policy frameworks.
• Experience in statistical software and tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, etc).
• Experience working with industry datasets (e.g., ABS, RBA, CoreLogic, or similar).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Public speaking for presenting at industry forums and business to business events
• Strong time management and organisational skills
• A proactive, self-starting attitude with excellent problem-solving abilities
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work across multiple offices
• A keen eye for detail and data accuracy
• Professional discretion and sound judgement

About You:

• Passionate About the Industry – You are genuinely interested in the built environment, with a desire to understand our projects, initiatives, and policies to position RLB as an industry leader.
• Strategic & Innovative – You bring creativity and fresh thinking to publications, identifying opportunities to differentiate RLB and tell compelling stories about our expertise.
• Data & Benchmarking Focused – You have the ability to research, track industry trends, and report on benchmarks to ensure RLB’s publications remain best-in-class.
• Collaborative & Relationship-Driven – You thrive in a team environment, engaging with Directors & committees and working closely with the R&D team.
• Highly Organised & Detail-Oriented – You can manage multiple deadlines, competing priorities with efficiency and precision.
• Tech-Savvy – You’re proficient in Microsoft Office and other publication tools & can quickly upskill in new digital platforms.

If you want to join our dynamic and world-class team, please apply by providing a CV & cover letter that addresses how our values resonate with you & the key responsibilities of this role.

While Melbourne is the preferred location, we’re open to candidates based in any of our Australian offices.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Not Applicable

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Analyst

• Industries

  Construction

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