Economist

The MHCLG Data Unit is an expert multi-disciplinary team, including data scientists, economists, geographers and data engineers, that provides critical spatial data insights to the department and supports data-driven decision making. We are fully embedded into key policy areas that are key to the department’s success. We pride ourselves in our ability to innovate, tackle tricky questions and convene different parts of government, ensuring a place-based lens is central to MHCLG’s work. The post holder will lead analysis to support the development of policies in priority areas, such as stronger communities. They will work proactively with policy colleagues to identify analytical opportunities and translate complex data and analysis into compelling, rapid insights. The post holder will engage with analysts across central government to draw on wider expertise and ensure complementarity. Key responsibilities will include: + Deploying economic theory and evidence from a range of quantitative and qualitative evidence, to support priority policy areas, including stronger communities. + Leading and conducting analytical and research projects within a fast-paced environment. Analysis may include conducting rapid evidence reviews, quantitative data analysis, or producing data packs, data stories, briefings and reports to inform decision-making. + Communicating insights to senior stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. Drawing key insights and narratives from complex data and presenting these effectively through written and spoken communication. + Building and maintaining relationships with policy and analysis colleagues across government, influencing the direction of cross-government policy priorities and ensuring complementarity with other government departments’ work. For more information on this role please contact: Benjamin Vigreux - benjamin.vigreux@communities.gov.uk Local Authority Financial Risk Analysis The posts sit within the Local Policy Analysis (LPA) Division within the Analysis and Data Directorate of DLUHC. LPA is a multi-disciplinary team of around 36 economists, statisticians, operational and social researchers. LPA plays an instrumental role in the delivery of local public services with its analysis playing a critical role in the design and delivery of local government finance policies. LPA’s analysis is continuously in demand from senior officials, Ministers and other government departments. Examples of the division’s work include leading analysis on: central government measures to support local government in response to Covid-19; the review of local authority relative need and the distribution of new funding; local government funding need for the Spending Review; local authority financial risk and sustainability; and policy options and modelling for the annual Local Government Finance Settlement. The post holder will lead economic analysis on local authority financial risk in an area where annual expenditure is around £60bn. This includes forecasting sectors levels of financial risk and modelling the impact on sector risk of different policy options. The post holder will also lead the development of various different risk tools and economic analysis of local authority capital spending including work on commercial activity and its potential implications. Key responsibilities will include: + Leading the development of models capable of describing past trends in local authority financial sustainability, drawing on large and complex datasets to project future trends in financial risk and sustainability and assess the impact of different policy options on local authority sector sustainability; + Producing projections on local authority levels of reserves and debt servicing costs including working closely with officials from HM Treasury and the Office of Budget Responsibility and other government departments; + Leading the economic analysis of local authority capital spending including on commercial activity and its potential implications. The post holder will work closely with policy officials to improve the department’s understanding of the level of local authority commercial investments and economic risks associated with this. For more information on this role please contact: Edward Thomas - edward.thomas1@communities.gov.uk Place and Growth Analysis (PGA) The Place and Growth Analysis team is a central strategic analytical team at the heart of Local Growth, Communities and Devolution Group, encompassing 15 economists, social researchers and operational researchers. Embedded alongside policy, we produce analysis to shape the overarching strategy of the Group to address regional disparities, including the vision and cohering evidence base for the SR. We also directly shape the evidence base to support place-sensitive approaches to economic growth policy, to guide central government investment, the place-specific elements of the industrial strategy and the use of local levers. We are a cross-cutting, flexible team that works in a matrix management structure, looking to maximise both impact and development opportunities. The post holder will partner closely with local growth policy leads, to design, deliver and apply analysis to shape local growth priority policies, and the overarching spatial focus of the Growth Mission and the national Industrial Strategy. This will involve fast paced analysis, involving cross-cutting growth policy areas, and large amount of engagement with stakeholders within MHCLG, other government departments and within local government. Key responsibilities will include: + Deploying economic theory and evidence from a range of quantitative and qualitative sources, to shape central government policy around local growth, including the design of Local Growth Plans and the national Industrial Strategy. + Undertaking research projects to extend our collective understanding of barriers and opportunities to local growth, with the option of this taking the form of literature reviews, application of theory and/or data and coding projects, depending on the interests and background of the successful candidate, + Using analysis to influence the policy levers owned by a wider range of central government departments and local government, including close working with HMT to shape the overarching strategy for Regional Growth across government. + Building and maintaining relationships with external experts, including academics and think tanks, to directly inform policy and to shape the team’s wider knowledge base. For more information on this role please contact: Toni Bilyanska - toni.bilyanska@communities.gov.uk, If you graduated more than five years ago, then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the competency section of the application form. Competencies You will need to address the technical competences for the GES profession in the application and at interview. Professional technical competences are listed below: Economic competences Economics: Application of knowledge Economics: Analysis of data Economics: Effective communication Candidates who are not GES badged – If you pass the sift stage but are not yet badged, the vacancy holder will check your qualifications to ensure you are eligible for badging. If the vacancy holder confirms you are eligible, you will undergo the badging process which includes a written exercise and an interview where you will be asked technical questions based on the Economic competences and expected to give a presentation. Separate to the badging you will also be asked behaviour based questions as part of the interview. If the vacancy holder confirms you are not eligible, your application will be withdrawn from the process and you will not continue through to interview stage., As part of our pre-employment checking process we will be using your CV to confirm your job history. Please note that by providing us with your CV you are consenting to us using the information enclosed as part of the checking process. Unless stated otherwise in the advert, your CV will not form part of the assessment but will be used for information purposes and only shared with the panel at interview stage. Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise). Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions, for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible. Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. When writing your application, remember: + The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially. + Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers. + If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!) At sift, we will be assessing Behaviour 1 (lead behaviour) - Communicating and Influencing Behaviour 2 - Seeing The Big Picture Behaviour 3 - Making Effective Decisions Technical - Please explain why your economic knowledge, skills and experience make you a suitable candidate for these roles. Please feel free to draw on a range of examples to illustrate this, rather than sticking to a single example. There is a 250 word limit per question. In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of the following success profiles elements: Behaviour – Seeing The Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions Technical - Candidates will be assessed against the Economic Technical competences. Candidates invited to interview will be expected to complete an oral briefing exercise as part of the interview process. The oral-briefing exercise is designed to simulate aspects of the job to be performed and provide a second basis for assessing the behaviours and competencies required in the job. The oral briefing is usually part of the professional requirements as government analytical professions require an oral briefing as part of the entry or promotion process. The briefing will take one of the following forms: 1. A prepared on the day presentation to the interview panel which will be followed by questions from the panel. You will be provided with all the information to use for your presentation on the day of your interview. You will be given up to 45 minutes to read this information and prepare your presentation. OR 1. You will be provided with a question in advance of the interview and asked to prepare a presentation of a specific length addressing this question. This presentation will be followed by questions from the panel. Candidates invited to interview will be given full instructions on the presentation being used. The presentation will be followed by a 45 minute competency based interview. In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements: Behaviours: Seeing The Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, + In order to receive this specialist pay band, you must be fully qualified and in a qualifying post as agreed by the Finance Head of Profession. Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions. BENEFITS: Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: Any move to MHCLG 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk For further information about the benefits available to MHCLG employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: + London + Wolverhampton + Manchester + Darlington

• There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role.
• Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service.
For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack. SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES: Sifting is envisaged to take place from 18/10/24 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. Reserve List In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details in a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@communities.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. CTC (Counter-terrorism Clearance): Important note Successful candidates for roles based in our 2 Marsham Street building must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check and the process can take up to 8 weeks to complete. Please note that successful candidates will need to pass the CTC security checks – this requires you to have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years. Please refer to the MHCLG Notes on Security Clearance section of our Candidate Pack for further information on Counter Terrorism Clearance (CTC). Thank you. Candidates should also note that with effect from 1st August 2018 the department will also check all applicants who are successful at interview, against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) held by the Cabinet Office. In accordance with the Civil Service Internal Fraud Policy, any applicant who is included on the IFD will be refused employment by MHCLG. Please see the Candidate Pack for further information on the Internal Fraud Database. Candidate Pack Information Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the MHCLG candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules Internal Fraud Database The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to MHCLG as a participating government organisations. MHCLG then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented. For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.Security Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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.Diversity and Inclusion 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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

• Demonstrated ability to perform at an SEO level against the GES technical framework. • Strong analytical skills, including an ability to extract narratives, draw conclusions and make recommendations from multiple data sources. • Ability to work effectively with a range of colleagues from different backgrounds, including those with different priorities and objectives. • Proven ability to understand the big picture context around work, and shape the focus, content and application of analysis accordingly. • The ability to apply economic theory tools, techniques and methods to inform policy. • The ability to present and communicate complex analysis clearly and in an impactful way, through written and spoken communication Candidates will be asked to confirm if the are applying to be part of – or already belong to the Government Economic Service (GES) profession. This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process. Existing civil servants who are currently a member of the GES will retain their professional membership in this role. Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within the GES as part of the selection process. Please make any current affiliation clear in your application. External candidates or civil servants without a current GES affiliation may be considered for accreditation to the GES as part of the recruitment process. If you are not currently a member a the GES profession you will be put through the membership process for the GES as part of this application. You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful. If you do not pass the GES entry requirements your application will not be taken further. See the Guide to Analytical Candidates document for more details of the membership process for the GES.

Here at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), we work on things that make a real difference to people’s lives. Whether it's through the homes we live in, the work of our local councils, the economic growth of our regions or the communities we’re all part of, our work is at the top of the political agenda. We have ambitious and far-reaching outcomes to achieve this year and, if you’re thinking of joining us, there’s never been a more exciting time. We have over 3,500 staff who are based in 20 offices across the UK. As an MHCLG economist, the post holder will join a vibrant network of economists and lead on key analysis in support of the department’s work to improve life across the UK. This is a pooled recruitment process. We are looking to recruit up to 3 talented economists to join the department in one of the following teams (1 role per team): • MHCLG Data Unit • Local Authority Financial Risk Analysis • Place and Growth Analysis (PGA) Please see the following section for more details about each role. We particularly welcome candidates from an ethnic minority background and other underrepresented groups to apply, as we work to continually improve our ability to represent the places and communities we support through our work.

Alongside your salary of £41,679, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government contributes £12,074 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. + Learning and development tailored to your role + An environment with flexible working options + A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity + A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%, + The salary for this role will be £45,813 (London) or £41,679 (National).