About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group

The Economics Group leads HM Treasury’s analysis of developments in the UK economy and advises ministers on the implications for the Government’s economic strategy. It provides expert economic analysis and advice for Ministers. The Group’s data hub is transforming how the Treasury uses data across its entire business. The Group collaborates with external experts on the UK economy, including the Bank of England, Office for Budget Responsibility and leading academics. Economics Group provides support for the UK Government’s economic and social research professions, including running centralised recruitment and the annual conferences.

About the team

The Analytical Projects Unit sits within the Economic Risks team in the Economics Group. It provides analytical expertise and support to critical projects across HMT. Members of the team are deployed on projects covering a range of public policy issues – both influencing HMT’s macroeconomic policy within Economics Group and building the evidence base for policymaking across other areas.

The Unit is led by a Grade 6, with two Grade 7, two SEOs, one HEO, and two Economics Apprentices. Oversight is provided by the Deputy Director for Economic Risks and the Director of Economics. It is a friendly and supportive team, working in a matrix management style, where team members feel valued.

Joining the team is an excellent way of gaining an overview of HMT’s work, building a network, and being involved in high-profile Ministerial priorities. 

About the Job

This role will suit candidates with excellent analytical skills who are looking for a varied and stretching portfolio of responsibilities, and enjoy working collaboratively with a range of partners. The post holder will need to be able to support, develop, and manage one apprentice economist in a matrix management structure, and get up to speed on new issues quickly.

The post holder will complete projects lasting around 3 months that apply analytical tools and techniques, as well as economic knowledge, to support policymaking in line with Ministerial priorities, often at pace. Previous projects for the team have included:

• Building the evidence base on the labour market impacts of health interventions.
• Developing a model to analyse the impact of energy policy schemes.
• Assessing modelling capability for maintenance spending.
• Providing analysis to support advice on how to best implement Civil Service workforce reductions.
• Macroeconomic assessment of the UK economy (inflation, investment, labour markets etc.,)

During projects, the post holder will be matrix-managed in their day-to-day work by a Grade 7 project manager from within their project team. We have well-developed systems for ensuring excellent matrix management, including in a hybrid environment, and ensuring high-quality performance feedback.

The specific accountabilities of this role are:

• The Unit employs a matrix management structure for staff working on projects. The post holder will be responsible for line management of one Apprentice Economist with a strong focus on staff development. The post holder will build effective relationships with the project managers to whom project staff are allocated to ensure excellent day-to-day management and regular feedback is provided.
• Integrating in a new team and becoming abreast of the policy area quickly. This will include understanding who key stakeholders are, proactively developing an understanding of the area, and setting the project’s scope within this.
• Scoping out and planning analytical projects, including by identifying the best analytical techniques, the key outputs, and prioritising work streams with the greatest impact to improve HMT’s understanding of an issue and inform policy advice.
• Deliver high quality analytical projects at pace working collaboratively with policy teams across HM Treasury and other Government departments. There may also be opportunities to task-manage staff on projects.
• Communicate the conclusions of the project to Senior Officials, Ministers, and other partners, influencing the strategic direction of HMT policy.
• Representing the team across the organisation, helping to burnish the APU’s reputation as a key part of the HMT architecture which influences HMT policy.
• Support wider corporate work of the branch, team and group. For instance, contribute to one of the group’s corporate objectives (which include diversity, inclusion and wellbeing; management excellence; openness, etc.).

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 28th at 12:00: Click here to join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Owen Hill: owen.hill@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

Required Skills, Experience and Behaviours: The below criteria will be assessed in your application.

1. Highly numerate with an ability to apply analytical tools and techniques, along with a good understanding of economics, to inform policy decisions (technical skills)
2. An ability to analyse and use a range of relevant and credible information from internal and external sources to solve problems (making effective decisions)
3. An ability to scope out a project, set out key milestones and manage a busy workload, prioritising effectively to meet short and long-term objectives (delivering at pace)
4. An ability to communicate clearly in written and verbal communications, bringing technical analysis to life for non-specialists (communicating and influencing)

The lead criterion is: technical skills

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Required Qualifications: 

An undergraduate degree in Economics, or equivalent work experience.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

[RECRUITMENT TEAM TO INSERT TEAMS LINK] 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 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.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 7th April

Shortlisting: w/c 8th April and w/c 15th April

Interviews:  w/c 22nd April

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.  

For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) / Security Check (SC) / Developed Vetting (DV).  

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  

Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  

If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.