About the job

Job summary

Work where your analysis will directly affect the lives of millions of low-paid workers

This post provides an excellent opportunity to work on one of the highest profile areas of public policy: tackling low pay. The Government wants to make the UK the best place possible to live and work. Making work pay for the lowest earners in our society by increasing the National Living Wage is core to that commitment. It tasked the Low Pay Commission with raising the NLW to reach two-thirds of median hourly earnings by 2024 for workers aged 21 and over. That was delivered on April. In this role, you will be asked to evaluate the impacts of this flagship policy and advise future policy.

Become an authority on low-paid labour markets and the impacts of the minimum wage

You will have lead responsibility for the analysis of NLW and be active in developing future minimum wage policy for all ages. This involves conducting ground-breaking analysis of large datasets and using this analysis to influence the LPC’s recommendations on minimum wage rates.

Be part of an organisation that has developed an international reputation for its expertise

The Low Pay Commission is a non-departmental Public Body, within DBT. We advise the Government on the National Minimum Wage, including the NLW. We are a social partnership of nine Commissioners – with backgrounds in academia, business, and employee representation – supported by a small, dedicated team of eight – including policy advisors, administrators, economists, and statisticians. We gather evidence of the impact of minimum wages on the economy, particularly on low-paying sectors and low-paid workers. Analysis is central to our evidence-based policymaking with its quality essential to our credibility.

Work with leading labour market experts and enhance your analytical expertise

You will work with external researchers on a project combining large datasets including tax records, pay data and census data to provide new and innovative analysis as well as heading in-house research using HMRC and ONS data. You will help the Chief Economist identify and develop research areas and take an active role in commissioning and managing external research.

A job that offers flexibility and opportunities to develop

The team is dedicated producing high-quality analysis. It has a flexible working culture. The team works together on policy, analytical and admin issues. There are opportunities to develop different areas of expertise, including analytical and policy.

Job description

The team is small and works flexibly with the opportunity to lead on and initiate new projects, and to be involved in non-analytical work including policy development, stakeholder engagement with employers, workers and their representatives, as well as communications, and governance.

The core of the role currently is:

• Leading evaluation of the impact of the National Living Wage on pay, employment and business. This involves synthesising evidence from a wide variety of sources, including: the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, the Labour Force Survey, and administrative tax data; academic research; and evidence from our consultation about how employers and employees are responding to minimum wage increases.
• Conducting econometric analysis (individually, with colleagues and with external researchers) and working with the academic Commissioners to provide timely updates on how the NMW/NLW affects earnings, employment and hours. You will have access to a number of large datasets to do this evaluation, including underexplored datasets such as administrative tax data.
• Modelling the path of the National Living Wage.
• Advising and supporting Commissioners to make their recommendations on the levels of the rates. This involves explaining complex evidence-based analysis in a clear and succinct way in both presentations and written documents and answering challenging questions. Oral communication and presentation skills are key.
• Managing individual externally commissioned research projects ensuring that they are policy relevant and value for money for the Commission and deliver to time and quality standards.

Other responsibilities include:

• Advising the Chief Economist and Commissioners on the research programme by identifying evidence gaps, and influencing the content, methodology and data sources used.
• Monitoring international developments of policy and research.
• Participating in Commission visits and stakeholder meetings with workers, employers and their representatives.
• Assisting the chief economist in organising and managing two research symposiums and an international workshop each year.
• Building strong relationships with a range of technical and non-technical external contacts, including the ONS, DBT, DfE, DWP, HM Treasury and the devolved administrations.

As well as being a leader within the LPC, the post-holder will be a key member of the team and work closely with colleagues in a range of areas. They will play a role in driving forward strategic objectives, publicly representing the LPC, and contributing to the work of the whole team to deliver world-class minimum wage analysis and policy.

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Excellent project management skills.
• Use statistical packages such as R to analyse large data sets. The LPC mainly uses R but also works with SPSS and Stata.
• Demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills.
• Adept at providing clear advice for non-experts on technical issues.
• Ability to deliver high quality analysis at pace.
• Willing to work flexibly to cover others and the areas of responsibility could change over time.

The successful applicant will be expected to take part in Low Pay Commission activities, including visits around the UK, Secretariat meetings with stakeholders, Commission meeting preparations, report drafting, and social media activities.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with large datasets.
• Able to conduct econometric analyses.
• Understanding of low-pay labour markets.

Personal attributes & skills

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Would like to become a leading authority on labour markets and the impact of minimum wages.
• Are keen to apply analytical techniques to public policy.
• Have experience of using statistical packages including R to analyse large data sets.
• Are adept at providing clear advice on technical issues.
• Have strong written and oral communication skills.
• Have a good understanding of how analysts can work closely with policy colleagues to drive forward an evidence-based policy agenda.
• Are able to work in a small team to produce high quality analysis.

Candidates will be considered on promotion, but they will need to show they are comfortably ready for operating at a higher level.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,026, Department for Business and Trade contributes £15,397 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.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the Essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential criteria.   

In the event that there is a high volume of applicants, a short sift will be conducted based on Personal Statement only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Applicants who want to apply to the GSG will be required to do an online statistical test. Once you have submitted your application and the application has closed, you will be emailed during standard working hours inviting you to complete the GSS online multiple choice test. This is a timed test and must be completed within 48 hours for you to be considered for the next stage of the process. You are encouraged to try the test attached to the advert before attempting the real test. Please ensure you inform us ahead of the test if you require any reasonable adjustments to be considered. If you are an existing member of the GSG you will not be required to do the online test.

In advance of the interview, if you are not an existing member of the Government Social Research (GSR) profession, you will be required to undertake a 45 minute online written “knowledge test”. This test will be supervised and conducted online over MSTeams and involve you responding to a range of exam questions to test your technical knowledge of social research and statistical methods.
In the interview, we will also assess your technical social research skills by asking you to present on a pre-prepared research topic which will be given to you in advance, for up to 10 minutes. An additional technical question will also be asked as part of the interview.
All technical questions will be based on the grade specific skills and knowledge required for the GSR profession set out in the GSR framework – a copy which can be obtained from the link further below.

Please note: If you are already a member of the GSG, GES, GSR or GORS, you are exempt from sitting the test. To prevent your application being rejected please email resourcing@businessandtrade.gov.uk as soon as you submit an application to notify us, please include the campaign number in the email title and your membership number. Once confirmed you will be moved onto the next stage by our recruitment team.

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.

At interview you will be assessed on the following technical skills relating to the membership your application is being processed against -

• Government Social Research: Technical skills, analysis & interpretation Click Here
• Government Statistician Group: Presenting and disseminating data effectively Click Here
• Government Operational Research Service: Knowledge and application of Operational Research skills and techniques Click Here      
• Government Economics Service: Application of economics knowledge Click Here

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section on the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. 

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.  
• Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.   
• A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Feedback

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.