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Economist
Information Technology
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About the job
Job summary
About the team
The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Strategy and Delivery team is a multidisciplinary team (Statisticians, Social Researchers, Performance Analysts and Economists) sitting at the heart of all that we do in the Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) directorate in the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) to secure accountability and learning. Digital is a large area of spend for DBT year on year. As DBT's spend on DDaT is larger every year, developing a comprehensive M&E programme to understand what works, what does not work and why, is paramount. The team is the first step in creating and delivering an M&E Strategy for all DDaT products and services. The team is setting up the framework for key performance indicators, undertaking bespoke holistic evaluations and the measurement of HMT compliant Value for Money (VfM) to support Fiscal Events. This is vital to understanding how the resources are being used, support the continuous learning and understand the economic impact. The team’s aim is to fulfil the ambition reflected in a recent National Audit Office review which highlighted that DBT’s digital services do not yet provide the export support that some businesses need. Through embedding comprehensive M&E the team will support the continuous improvement of Digital products and services.
Job description
About the role
As a Grade 7 Economist, you will devise the programme of work to ensure there is an appropriate measure of Value for Money (VfM) to cover all digital products and services in DBT (Business Support, Exports, Investment, Market Access, Corporate Enablers etc.) The VfM approaches to be deployed will align with existing evidence and approaches in the Department and therefore will need to work very closely with performance analysts in DDaT and with analysts in the wider DBT Analysis Group. You will design the work programme, will identify key gaps in the evidence and analysis, and make informed recommendations. You will also oversee the delivery of VfM which will combine the evidence on products (qualitative / quantitative) and economic impact where available. Where Green Book VfM may not be appropriate, the role holder will look to measure Governmental Digital Service (GDS) key performance metrics. You will also work very closely with the G7 M&E Leads across the DDaT areas of work to identify and address gaps on economic impact measures. Securing an effective ROAMEF cycle for each product and service will be an important aspect of the work. To achieve this, developing the right relationships and governance for the transmission of evidence and the enabling of a culture of continuous learning for the development and delivery of digital products. The G7 will line manage one or two analysts, normally economists or statisticians.
Responsibilities
- Devising a methodology for the measurement of Value for Money (VfM) in often difficult areas with little existing evidence base, requiring some creativity in approach and an application of the first principles
- Rapid responses to requests from senior stakeholders and Cabinet Office that will often require liaising with performance analysts
- Working with development teams to embed the right data collection to inform VfM calculations
- Contribution to Fiscal Events and appraisal to support business cases
- Working closely with other analytical teams to keep abreast with latest evidence and approaches to VfM measurement
- Embed new Behavioural Insights approaches and support AB testing
- Support M&E leads with gathering/analysing data
- Contribute to appraisal of AI projects
Person specification
Essential Skills and Experience
You must have:
- a degree in economics or equivalent
- significant experience working in an Economist role
- the ability to manage, conduct and communicate analysis with confidence
- the ability to review evidence on the relevant topic
- experience of applying Green Book appraisal techniques
Personal Attributes and Skills
This role is ideal for an Economist with wide experience of Green Book appraisal techniques and approaches who is keen to use evidence in an applied setting to make a real difference to how DBT delivers services. You should enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, be able to support policy changes in real time and be comfortable working with a wide range of stakeholders (policy stakeholders / DDaT product teams etc.).
Benefits
- 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 average employer contribution of 27%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply
This vacancy will assess Behaviours and GES Technical Competencies. Unless otherwise specified, all interviews are currently being held online. Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way. Sift will take place week commencing: 22nd April 2024Interviews will take place week commencing: 13th May 2024Please note these dates are indicative and may be subject to change. As part of the application process you will be asked to upload a CV, including details of your degree in Economics or equivalent and grade achieved, and complete a personal statement. This personal statement should not exceed 1250 words total and should be structured into the following five sections:
- three examples of work, each no more than 250 words, each one detailing each of the three key GES technical areas (Analysis of Data, Application of Knowledge, Effective Communication)
- two examples of demonstrations of key Behaviours for this role, one for Working Together and one for Delivering at Pace, each no more than 250 words
At the sift stage for this role, we assess this CV and personal statement. In the case of a large volume of applications, we will assess your example of 'Analysis of Data' and your CV only.
How we interview
If invited to interview you will need to prepare a presentation on a relevant analytical topic, and further details will be shared in advance of interviews. You will be asked questions about economics and analytical knowledge, based on the key GES competencies, to determine if you meet the requirements to be Government Economic Service profession (GES) badged. These will be followed by questions against Civil Service Behaviours. The competencies:
- Analysis of Data
- Application of Knowledge
- Effective Communication
The Behaviours:
- Working Together
- Delivering at Pace
https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/behaviours/ Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences. The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Click through to apply and find out more.
Reserve List
Candidates who pass the bar at interview but are not the highest scoring will be held on a 12-month reserve list for future appointments. Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised.
Security Clearance Details
All security clearances require you to provide evidence of your UK footprint where you have been physically present in the UK. The requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for at least 3 of the last 5 years. Failure to meet the residency requirements will result in your security clearance application being rejected. If you require SC clearance you will need to provide evidence of the below requirements. Checks will be made against:
- Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records).
- UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records.
- Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency.
- Security Services record.
- Location Details
Further Information
The Department for Business and Trade embraces and values diversity in all forms. We welcome and pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has on the work we do, and we promote equality of opportunity throughout the organisation. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Click through to apply and find out more. Our recruitment process is underpinned by appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: ddat.recruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. Click here to download a PDF about the Civil Service Commission/Complaints.
Recording of interviews is not permitted except by prior agreement and where it is necessary as an evidenced reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010. If you make a recording of our employees without agreement, you should be aware that in collecting such personal data you would be deemed a 'data controller' under the UK General Data Protection Regulation, and are therefore required to comply with all relevant data protection requirements. You would also be susceptible to enforcement action by the regulator and potential legal action.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
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