Deputy Principal Economist

Location

Bangor, Co. Down | United Kingdom

Job description

Job description

The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Economist Profession has enjoyed a prolonged period of significant growth. It now consists of over 140 Economists providing valued professional economic services right across Northern Ireland government. Economists within the Profession engage in a wide variety of important work areas including advising on investment decisions, undertaking and managing research and evaluation, undertaking qualitative and quantitative analysis to develop and shape policy, economic impact assessments, delivering utility regulation and price control and providing briefing, advice and commentary on the economy and economic issues to Executive Ministers and Senior Officials. More than ever, the analytical skills of Economists are central to supporting good decision making. With increasingly tight budgets, ongoing public sector reform, increasing demands for public services and the challenging global outlook, robust economic analysis and advice is central to good policy making. It is certainly a time of great change and opportunity. We are keen to continue to build on the Profession’s strong reputation for objectivity and rigour and welcome into the Profession individuals who share these core values. The work of Deputy Economists depends on where they are posted. Individuals will be expected to demonstrate and maintain an up-to-date understanding of current economic issues and topics. While the precise duties and responsibilities of individual posts will vary..

Responsibilities

• The provision of high quality, reliable, accurate and timely economic briefing to others, both in departments and externally;
• Undertaking and/or managing research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, economic assessments, best practice reviews and evaluation on a broad range of economic topics and Ministers priorities;
• Drafting high quality, reliable, accurate and timely submissions to Ministers and/or Senior Officials;
• Responding to Assembly Questions and ad-hoc economic queries
• Maintaining an up to date understanding of current economic issues and topics both in Northern Ireland and at a national and international level;
• Quality Assurance of economic appraisals, business cases and evaluations;
• Working with others to develop economic appraisals, business cases and evaluations;
• Delivery of training in the use of economic appraisal, the development of business cases and post-project evaluation;
• For further information please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must, by the closing date for applications: 1. Be in possession of at least a second-class honours degree with Economics as a major component;
• AND 2. Have at least 2 years experience, gained within the last 10 years, in undertaking economic research and analysis, post qualification (Please refer to the Candidate Information Booklet).

Desirable Skills

• In addition, applicants should be aware that, should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the breadth and depth of information provided by candidates.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 15th March 2024 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, women, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website (Please quote reference number: IRC300237)

Job tags

Salary

£40.3k - £43.19k per annum