About the job

Job summary

The Economy and Strategic Analysis (ESA) team sits in the centre of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), headed by Sravya Rao (DD). The team works to the Chief Economist / Director of Analysis Ben Cropper and is the lead analytical team for the Industrial Strategy directorate and the DBT Growth Policy Unit.

ESA’s focus is economic growth and productivity analysis. Its priorities include:

• Building DBT’s strategic narrative and evidence base on economic growth and productivity; embedding this into DBT policy, strategy, priorities, and operations
• Supporting the development and delivery of the Government’s Industrial Strategy, including policy design, analytical outputs, and the evidence base
• Supporting the DBT Growth Policy Unit to develop policy thinking on economic growth, including the Growth Mission
• Producing strategic analysis on how specific policy areas or transformational growth ideas contribute to economic growth and productivity, working closely with policy and analysis colleagues in DBT, wider Government, and externally
• Develop briefing and analysis to build DBT’s understanding of how the UK and global macroeconomy affect growth and productivity in the short- and longer-term

The UK economy has suffered weak productivity growth since the Global Financial Crisis. Reversing this decline is critical to raising living standards, ensuring the economy is resilient to shocks and transitions such as Net Zero, tackling longstanding challenges such as low investment and regional inequality, and creating the fiscal headroom to improve public services.

Growth is the core focus of DBT; we own many economic policy levers, ranging from employment regulation to trade to investment, with a particular focus on microeconomic growth policy (e.g. sectors, regions, consumers, workers, businesses).

Our team explores the root causes of and considers solutions to these complex problems, through policy-facing analysis and our own proactive strategy analytical projects. Our scope includes but is not limited to DBT policy areas

Job description

We are recruiting an analyst to develop our evidence base on the composition and delivery of policies to support the development of the Government’s Industrial Strategy. This is a permanent Grade 7 role which is open to candidates from outside the civil service and existing civil servants, including those applying on promotion.

The Industrial Strategy is the top priority of the DBT Secretary of State and is being developed at pace. It seeks to boost the performance of priority sectors, through vertical’ (i.e. sector-specific) and ‘horizontal’ (i.e. business environment) levers. It is led by DBT and HMT, drawing in expertise and policy ideas from across Government and externally. It is a crucial part of the Government’s Growth Mission, in which DBT will play a key role.

This role sits at the centre of DBT, supporting both the Industrial Strategy team and DBT Growth Policy Unit. We are seeking a postholder who could employ a mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis, drawing on academic literature and conducting primary data analysis. With the opportunity to explore granular microdata from ONS / HMRC / commercial datasets as well as cross-country economic policy data such as the OECD Quantifying Industrial Strategies database).

Our goal would be to quantify and assess the effectiveness economic and industrial policies, including how they interact with one another, and using this to develop ideas for how they could be better designed and delivered. We encourage the postholder to be proactive in developing projects, exploring datasets, and developing policy ideas.

The postholder will report to a Grade 6 (Olly Bartrum) leading on economic policy analysis. They should also expect to work closely with the other Grade 6 teams in ESA – one covering UK and global macroeconomics and microdata analysis led by Dan Mawson and one covering analysis on specific thematic areas of policy led by Jacob Seager.

The postholder will be expected to:

• Develop analysis on how economic policy contributes to an overarching set of growth objectives, the challenges they face, and policy options to unlock growth – for the Industrial Strategy and the DBT Growth Unit
• Shape and deliver a set of data-driven analytical and policy projects in relation to inform policy development within DBT and wider Government as well as to improve our evidence base on growth
• Deliver analytical outputs for the Industrial Strategy (e.g. theory of change, monitoring & evaluation, international comparisons)
• Develop strong relationships with policy and analytical colleagues across Government to identify and address evidence gaps, policy interdependencies, and opportunities for collaboration
• Engage with external experts (e.g. academia, think tanks, international organisations such as the OECD) and make use of data-driven analysis to draw in the best available evidence and new policy thinking
• Proactively anticipate and respond to ad hoc requests from the Director of Analysis, DG Growth, and Permanent Secretary on economic policy analysis on economic policy analysis

This post offers the ability to work across a wide range of teams within DBT and wider Government, as well as with external stakeholders. The postholder will have exposure to the Director of Analysis, Director of Strategy and Director Industrial Strategy as well as other senior officials. The postholder’s work will be seen and used at the highest levels of DBT as well as across Government.

This role does not currently include line management responsibility, but we may consider this in the future and there may be opportunities to task manage individuals in the meantime.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

This role is open to existing members of Government Economic Service (GES) and those who are eligible to join the GES.

For GES members as part of your application you will need to indicate to the Government Recruitment Service that you are already badged as a member of the GES.

For non-GES members you will undergo a badging assessment as part of the interview process. Eligibility for GES membership requires:

•  Have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics.
  • If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.
• Have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Candidates will need to demonstrate the skills, knowledge and experience to succeed as a Government Economist at the grade applied for or be an existing member of the Government Economic Service. Technical skills will be assessed against the grade requirement of the Government Economic Service (GES). Details can be found in the GES Framework.

These will be assessed during the selection process, including at both sift of your written application and interview. Applicants who are civil servants but not members of the GES and anyone applying from outside government must be able to demonstrate you meet the requirements of the GES, as successful appointment will include membership of the GES.

For applicants applying after more than a couple of years after university, who are not an existing member of the Government Economic Service relevant experience consists of experience working on economic analysis or research including for example in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GES through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your economic experience and skills covering the three components of the GES technical framework.

 Key success profiles for the role include:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating & Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Application of Knowledge (GES Competency)
• Analysis of Data (GES Competency)

 As this is an analytical post, the post holder will receive an analyst allowance of £4,245.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,560, 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.

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.

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.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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

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.
• This role may be considered as a secondment opportunity. Please reach out to the hiring manager listed at the bottom of this advert to discuss.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

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.