Senior Assistant Economist: Europe, Services and Trade Analysis

This is an exciting time to join the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). We are the UK government department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country. The roles are located in the EU, Services and Trade Analysis Team (ESTA) embedded in DBT's EU Hub. The unit provides analytical support to the department's EU Hub for the development of our trade and investment relationship with European partner countries and the EU. Our work has significantly increased in priority following the government's 'reset' with the EU and agreement with the European Commission to, 'strengthen cooperation at pace' including on the economy and to hold regular leader-level Summits. The unit enhances our capability to understand and investigate the evolution and drivers of trade and investment dynamics with our European partners to provide ministers and senior officials with expert analytical advice to inform strategic decision-making including important roles in the new Industrial and Trade Strategies. We also provide analysis to support important new domestic policies such as the UK Internal Market Act and Responsible Business Conduct. The multi-disciplinary unit is hiring 2 Senior Assistant Economists with strong technical and/or policy analysis skills and a passion for designing and delivering high quality, creative and highly impactful analysis. Team description - TCA Impacts, Implementation and Insights Team, Europe, Services and Trade Analysis- EU, Services & Trade directorate The unit has over 30 analysts working on EU and some domestic policies with a strong focus on sharing skills and expertise, for example coding. We hold regular social events in the office and outside. Working alongside the colleagues, the two Senior Assistant Economist roles provide analysis to support the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) implementation and DBT's strategic thinking for the UK/EU economic relationship, particularly important given the government's reset of the UK/EU relationship and commitment to, 'strengthen cooperation at pace'. These roles support the EU Hub policy teams and European analysis teams in DBT, working closely with different professions across DBT as well as high profile work with other Government Departments including DESNZ, HMT, FCDO and CO. The roles can be adjusted depending on the successful applicants' interests and development opportunities, but an idea of what the roles could involve are given below. Role 1 -EU Strategy and UK Internal Market Analysis The role could include:

• (I) Analysis of trade data for key EU member states to support UK-EU engagement opportunities in delivering DBT's EU priorities, and working with colleagues across the department, across other key departments and overseas networks to support Senior Officials and Ministers on EU engagements.
• (ii) Analysis contributing to DBT's EU strategy so we can maximise our trading relationship with the EU and support UK businesses grow and export.
• (iii) Producing analysis related to the impact of potential instances of regulatory divergence within the UK Internal Market. Engaging stakeholders cross-Whitehall to develop the evidence base on the impact of existing and future divergence.
Role 2 - TCA Implementation and Responsible Business Conduct Analysis The role could include:
• (i) Supporting DBT's analytical work regarding the EU in an ever-changing global context and ensure that UK trade and business interests are represented in analysis in Brussels and for Post in EU Member States.
• (ii) Producing analysis related to DBT-owned Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) chapters including Level Playing Field (LPF) provisions allowing open and fair competition with EU businesses, and EU subsidisation.
• (iii) Producing analysis on the impact of Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) policies on the performance of UK businesses, the wider economy and worker rights and environmental standards. Leading analysis related to potential RBC due diligence approaches, including examining evidence on market failures, the scale of costs and benefits for business, the effectiveness of interventions in addressing market failures. Working cross-Whitehall and with EU Member States to develop the evidence base on the impact of existing and future RBC policies. Understanding the impact of RBC policies has been identified as a key priority for the government.
• (iv) Analysing and contributing to the evidence base and discussions on the regulatory environment regarding the UK/EU relationship.