About the job

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists that is delivering the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) objectives as the Agency for UK REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). With a world-class reputation for safeguarding the health and safety of people at work, HSE is adapting and evolving to meet the new challenges ahead. At Chemical Regulations Division (CRD), we work with one goal in mind – to protect human health and the environment from the effects of potentially harmful substances.

To help us meet these challenges, we require two Band 3 Economic Analysts to join us. 

These are analytical delivery facing SEO Economist roles, within CRD’s Socioeconomic Analysis Team, responsible for providing high quality economic advice and analysis to ensure that chemicals are regulated in line with legislative requirements and safety standards.

Working Pattern

Part-time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours per week across 4-5 days (5 days preferable). 

Job description

You will work in areas such as cost benefit analysis, risk analysis, impact assessment, regulatory science, environmental and health economics/science; collaborating with scientists, policy advisors, and operational delivery teams on regulatory issues related to chemicals. Your primary tasks will be related to assessing and scrutinising the socioeconomic impact of proposals to regulate chemicals under the UK REACH chemicals regime. The scale and scope of questions that the economic analyst may have to deal with will vary, but will primarily be related to the costs and benefits of chemicals regulation and the technical and economic feasibility of alternatives and substitution of chemicals of concern.

You will be expected to explain your decisions internally and externally, to Expert Committees, other government departments and relevant stakeholders. You will have experience of applying economic thinking to complex situations and developing analysis to address policy questions. This will include undertaking quantitative analysis, writing technical reports and communicating complex analysis effectively and clearly to stakeholders, as well as quickly developing a good understanding of the relevant science and legislation related to chemicals and regulatory decision making. These posts provide excellent opportunities for economic analysts who are willing to take on a high degree of responsibility with exposure to stakeholders and senior government officials.

Responsibilities

• Lead on the preparation of economic analysis and risk management evidence for individual dossiers or positions related to the restriction of chemicals being considered for regulation;
• Lead on the critical assessment/scrutiny of reports and evidence related to the regulation of chemicals produced by third parties as part of Authorisation Applications for the use of chemicals of concern;
• Providing guidance and delivering advice to internal and external stakeholders on the socioeconomic impact assessment of chemicals;
• Produce formal comments and briefings during consultations and assessment discussions on risk management of chemicals;
• Apply and further develop their skills, knowledge and experience in the areas of socio-economic analysis and risk analysis/ management of chemicals, the chemical industry and broader areas of socioeconomic analysis and chemicals regulation;
• Work closely with other relevant stakeholders, such as DEFRA, DBT, UK Environment Agency, the chemicals industry and NGOs, etc.;
• Manage and develop an assistant economist. This will include identifying training needs, making proposals for training solutions and taking a leading role in the provision of training.

Please note: this is not an exhaustive list and there may be other tasks/responsibilities that will be required as part of this role. 

The successful candidates will be or could become members of the Government Economic Service (GES), a cross-Government network that sets standards for the profession and affords access to wide range of high-quality training and development opportunities.

For more information on the GES see - hrefhttps://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-economic-service/about

Hybrid Working

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.

Travel

There will be a need for travel to attend meetings at our Liverpool and London offices. These meetings can often be on a monthly basis. Adequate notice will be provided if attendance, travel and overnight stays are required for these meetings.

Person specification

• Proven practical experience of cost-benefit analysis/regulatory impact assessment (ideally related to human health, the natural environment or other risk analysis field).
• Ability to undertake quantitative analysis in support of environmental and human health risk and benefits assessment.
• Eagerness and the ability to learn quickly, spot opportunities to promote and use economics and conduct associated research.
• Ability to work independently towards your own objectives and to support team objectives, effectively prioritising competing demands to deliver to deadlines, using forward planning for self and team to identify and suggest solutions to risks and issues.
• Ability to provide accurate, expert and professional advice to influence effective decisions and provide robust solutions to problems.
• Commitment to, and continuous improvement in, Quality Assurance, quality and timeliness of analysis.
• Ability to communicate analysis clearly and with impact, choosing appropriate styles to ensure understanding and influence outcomes.
• Evidence of actively managing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, seeking and learning from feedback, and improving difficult relationships; influencing and driving continuous improvement. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,765, Health and Safety Executive contributes £12,648 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application Information

As part of your application, you will be invited to complete a CV. Your CV should concisely cover your career history, qualifications, and should highlight relevant experience and application of economics. Note: You are asked to anonymise these details. This will help us to recruit based on your knowledge and skills and not on your background, gender or ethnicity. Recruiting in this way is defined as ‘blind recruitment.

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 Person Specification. 

Application Guidance

Please access the following link for guidance on how to apply and how to complete a Personal Statement https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/how-to-apply/  

Sift Information

The sift is due to be held week commencing 5th August 2024. You will be assessed on:

• CV which highlights your career history, qualifications, and should highlight relevant experience and application of economics
• Personal Statement which should demonstrate how you meet the attributes listed in the Person Specification

Interview Information

If you are successful at the sift stage, you will be invited to interview, where you will be assessed on the two technical skills and experience mentioned above, alongside the three Behaviours listed within this advert.

Candidates selected for interview will also be asked to deliver a presentation for up to 5 minutes which will bring out their technical and analytical application skills as an economic analyst. You will be informed of the topic of presentation if you are invited to interview.

The GES Competency Framework provides more detail on the skills economists are expected to develop and demonstrate (https://civilservicelearning.civilservice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/ges_cpd_-_assistant_economists.pdf).

The interviews are due to take place from week commencing 19th and/or 26th August 2024. Interviews will be held via MS Teams. 

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.

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.

Further Information

Please note that a reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months.

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 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.