About the job

Job summary

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

We are looking for economists to support and challenge the development of education policy as members of the Government Economic Service (GES). 

You will join a community of analysts (economists, statisticians, operational researchers, social researchers, data scientists). Analysts in DfE:

• Provide high-quality, timely analysis that informs ministerial priorities and drives impactful decision making
• Invest in building evidence on what works
• Look to innovate in use of data sources / methods / tools in how we work
• Work together and with other professions as part of a vibrant community

As part of this assessment process you would be badged as a member of the Government Economic Service. The Government Economic Service (GES) is the professional body for economists in the UK Civil Service.  The GES champions economics in government: supporting our economists and promoting the use of high-quality economic analysis in policymaking. We have a large cross-government presence, with more than 3,500 members.  GES Economists can be found working across all areas of the Civil Service, providing economic analysis and insight in support of the entire range of UK Government and public service activities.

In DfE Economists support the development of education policy, building assessments of value for money and developing and overseeing policy evaluations, supporting strategy and undertaking detailed technical data and econometric analysis.  Some economists are embedded in strategy teams or in mixed-discipline analytical teams supporting a policy area; others work in a team with other economists undertaking projects.

GES economists are supported to undertake 100 hours of continuous professional development a year as a mixture of on-the-job training, formal training and self-guided study.  You will also be eligible to apply for the Masters Apprenticeship Scheme (EMAP), which provides study leave to undertake a masters qualification in Economics while working.

Whatever your role, you can expect to join a supportive organisation, committed to your learning and development with a strong team culture and a passion for evidence. 

Job description

A number of opportunities are available across the department, both in embedded analytical teams working on policy development in schools, skills and families, and in central teams supporting strategic priorities and projects.

On any given day you might be:

• Advising senior decision makers or Ministers on the evidence base in your area. Communicating complex concepts succinctly and persuasively to inform or influence decisions.
• Utilise cutting edge modelling techniques to get the best from our rich administrative data to undertake costings, econometric modelling, forecasting or appraisal.
• Applying cost benefit analysis to policy ideas to assess value for money
• Scoping/developing/undertaking an evaluation of a policy to see whether an idea or initiative works

Most economists have a work programme that is a mixture of projects and standing responsibilities and work in mixed discipline analytical teams.  Examples of recent projects economists have been involved in include:

• Providing evidence to the school teachers review body to inform teacher pay decisions, including analysis of labour market dynamics for graduate jobs, the teacher labour market itself and broader pay competitiveness
• Assessing the value for money of childcare policies to support recent announcements on the expansion of the Childcare offer
• Quantifying the economic returns to education and publishing the results for use in appraisal

Roles will be allocated to successful applicants based on candidate background and preference, as well as business need.

DfE Economists come from a diverse range of backgrounds and we are interested in all types of Economist and a variety of experiences.  However we also particularly welcome applicants with experience of one or more of the following disciplines: 1)Econometrics  and/or advanced modelling skills, 2) Policy appraisal or cost benefit analysis, particularly applied microeconomics, 3) Experience of developing and leading policy evaluations with a strong value for money component, 4) Regulatory economics.

Person specification

Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria including qualification requirement. If applicant numbers are excessive, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criteria and the qualification requirement.

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.

Essential Criteria:

• (Lead criteria) Strong analytical skills with experience of applying economic concepts to problem solving and/or policy development. You will be an analyst with at least 2 years post-graduation experience in Economic analysis.
• Strong communication skills, with experience of conveying complex concepts succinctly and with impact
• An ability to build strong and productive relationships with people from a wide range of professional backgrounds.
• A track record of delivering complex analytical projects or programmes of work to high quality.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience of one or more of the following areas:

• Econometrics  and/or advanced modelling skills
• Policy appraisal or cost benefit analysis, particularly applied microeconomics
• developing and leading policy evaluations with a strong value for money component
• Regulatory economics

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview, in the event of a tie break situation, to make an informed decision.

Qualifications - Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants will need to possess or will be expected to have at least an upper second-class honours degree.

It is also essential that you:

• Hold a degree in economics.
• If you completed a joint degree, at least 50% of the modules must be economics or have a MSc in economics.
• Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify.
• If you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the technical
• section of the application form

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

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:

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on the 12th of June 2023

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 2 sides and a maximum of 1,000 words) demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the advert. You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant for the role or further demonstrates. 

Interview

The interview stage will be split into 2 parts:

1. An interview covering Behaviours and your Experience.  The Behaviours that will assessed are Making Effective decisions and Communicating and Influencing (refer to the civil service success profiles for more information on these).
2. A separate Technical assessment. The second part of the interview process will assess your Technical skills as described in the GES SEO grade Technical framework GES Technical Framework 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). We will test your knowledge of economics, as well as your application of knowledges, analysis of data and your communication of Technical concepts. 

The Technical assessment will also include a pre-prepared verbal presentation. Further information will be provided to candidates successful to be shortlisted to interview.

Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.   

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

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 circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

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 had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming 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 https://www.childcarechoices.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.