About the job

Job summary

The Economic and Social Analysis Team provides leadership and quality service in social research/ economics to help HSE protect people and places. We provide high-quality, evidence-based advice covering the full breadth of HSE’s remit, producing analysis and research used across UK Government, industry, academia, international bodies e.g. OECD and EU.

HSE economists provide advice and analysis on the development of HSE strategy/ policy in tackling serious occupational injury; work-related ill health including cancer and mental health; and serious industrial accidents.

They are able to consider a variety of key questions/ policy areas important to the development of the economy and the protection of workers and members of the public, including: 

• What are the costs/ benefits of changes in health and safety regulation to workers, businesses and wider society?
• What are the economic impacts of reducing likelihood or impact of major accidents at hazardous workplaces e.g. power plants, chemical factories, and offshore installations?
• How should HSE determine the appropriate type/ level of intervention in responding to health and safety failures, how should behavioural ‘nudges’ be designed for maximum effectiveness?
• What are the quality of life/ welfare costs associated with workplace injuries and illnesses, how can we measure the impacts of long-latency health issues at work, such as exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens? 
• What incentives do businesses and workers face to comply with health and safety regulations?
• What are the impacts of the business cycle on health and safety outcomes?

To provide sound evidence-based answers to these questions, we collaborate with other analysts/ specialists in HSE, including statisticians, social researchers, psychologists, medics, policy advisors. We also work with economists in other Departments on Cross-Governmental research on the value of life and health; delivering strategic aims to promote the use of economics to support decision-making as part of the Government Economic Service.

Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 22.2 hours per week

Job description

While in post, the successful candidate will be required to apply to join the GES through the annual Assistant Economist recruitment scheme within 12 months of joining HSE if you are not a member of the GES already. If you are not a member of the GES and are successful at interview or offered a post, you will be offered a conditional contract until successful completion of the Economic Assessment Centre (EAC). Support will be offered to maximise the likelihood of success. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/assistant-economist-recruitment

As part of a specialised team, currently comprising seven Economists and eight Social Researchers, Assistant Economists (AEs) have many opportunities to take on responsibility and develop their skills. The Economic and Social Analysis Team provides advice across the scope of HSEs remit – from offshore oil and gas exploration to genetically modified organisms – and this offers great variety to AEs that will help form a solid basis for a career as a government economist. 

The main responsibilities and activities of this post can include: 

• Producing high quality regulatory impact assessments of specific legislative changes to support Ministerial decision-making and to satisfy the evidence standards of the Smarter Regulation Directorate
• Supporting Economic Advisors in developing HSE’s evidence base on the economic impacts of health and safety risks in collaboration with other analysts, scientists and policy advisors
• Working with other government departments and specialists in academia to develop HSE’s use and understanding of techniques to value life and health, the use of data analytics and the application of behavioural interventions to policy problems
• Promoting opportunities in HSE and the GES through engagement with students at local university economics degree programmes and guest lecture

Person specification

Essential Skills and Criteria: 

You should be able to demonstrate the following attributes:

• Analytical experience of cost-benefit analysis/impact assessment, or other examples of applying economic theory
• Experience of spotting opportunities to promote and use economics which enables you to conduct associated research
• Experience of working independently towards your own objectives and to support team objectives, effectively prioritising competing demands to deliver to deadlines
• Experience of using forward planning for self and team to identify and suggest solutions to risks and issues

At HSE, we are proud to be able to offer our people the opportunity to work in a hybrid way which combines working from home and the office. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your allocated office will be your contractual place of work. There will be a requirement to travel to the office for various activities e.g., collaborative working, supporting and training colleagues. If hybrid working is suitable for you and your role, the arrangements will be determined primarily by business need, but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. Therefore, we would encourage candidates to consider if the commute from home to the office is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. Please note that if you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,509, Health and Safety Executive contributes £9,317 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete an anonymised CV. Your CV should concisely cover your career history, qualifications, and should highlight any relevant experience and application of economics. You will also be asked to complete a Personal Statement (up to 1000 words) which should outline the evidence, skills and experience you possess with respect to the Essential Skills and Criteria. 

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement - About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) 

Please see link for the GES Technical Framework

Sift Information

The Sift is due to be held during week commencing 19th August where you will be assessed on:

• CV which highlights any relevant experience and application of economics
• Relevant qualifications (including list of course modules) and work experience
• Personal Statement which should demonstrate how you meet the attributes listed in the Essential Skills and Criteria. 

Please note: Your CV and Personal Statement will both be assessed however, you will receive a joint score for these.

Interview Information

Interviews will take place via MS Teams during weeks commencing 2nd or 9th September where you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Technical skills listed in this advert, along with your experience and strength based questions. 

You will also be asked to provide a presentation during your interview, further information will be provided if you are invited to interview. 

Please note that dependent on numbers of applications received these dates could be subject to change.

AI Tools & Platforms

During the application process candidates are allowed to utilise AI (artificial intelligence) platforms and Tools to support them in writing their Behaviours, CV’s and Personal Statements. However, all information submitted must be factually accurate. This includes presenting the ideas and experience of others, or those generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. All presented information will be assessed at the Interview Stage.

Further information 

Please note that a Reserve List will be held for the period of up to 12 months.

Sponsorship

This role is not open to application from those who will require sponsorship under the points based system. Should you apply for this role and require sponsorship your application will be rejected, and any provisional offers of employment will be withdrawn.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful in their application. For a summary of HSE terms and conditions as part of Civil Service Reform, please see the attached HSE Terms and Conditions document.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

HSE is proud to be a part of the Disability Confidence Scheme (DCS). As a Disability Confident employer, we positively welcome applications from disabled people. We are committed to making workplace adjustments to ensure anyone can participate in the recruitment and selection process.  

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all disabled applicants who provide evidence of meeting the minimum requirements necessary for the post. 

If, during the application or interview process, you require any assistance due to a disability or a medical condition, please contact us at the email address below to discuss how we can support you. For example if you have a disability, and you need an application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please contact: hr.resourcing-team@hse.gov.uk   

If successful in securing your role, HSE can provide suitable workplace adjustments to support you throughout your career with HSE. 

Any move to HSE from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at here 

Please note, if you are a current civil servant and you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions your application will not be progressed any further; Formal discipline action, any formal action regarding attendance, poor performance or any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.