Assistant Economist – Growth Economics

HM Treasury; Darlington; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a high-profile economist to lead analysis on productivity and growth. This role involves overseeing analytical projects, synthesizing academic literature, and representing the organization in key external engagements. The successful candidate will be instrumental in shaping policies that enhance productivity across the UK. With a focus on collaboration, you will work alongside a dedicated team to drive impactful initiatives and foster connections with academia. This is an exciting opportunity to influence economic policy and contribute to the nation's growth strategy.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Flexible working patterns

Generous parental leave packages

Defined Benefit pension scheme

Cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme

Active staff networks

Qualifications

• Degree in economics or related field required.
• Experience in delivering economic analysis and leading projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead analytical projects on growth and productivity.
• Create continuous improvement initiatives based on productivity research.
• Represent HMT on UK productivity in engagements.

Skills

Economic Analysis

Project Management

Networking

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Economics

Experience in Economic Policy Making

Job description

Are you looking for a high-profile economist role, leading analysis on productivity including analysing the trends and drivers of productivity growth and the effect of growth enhancing policy measures ? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

About the Team

The Growth Strategy and Coordination Team (GSCT) supports HM Treasury’s objective to ensure strong growth and competitiveness across all regions of the UK. It leads on growth strategy and co-ordinates HMT’s work on the pro-growth agenda. The team also has responsibility for cross-cutting supply-side policy including competition, markets, regulation and consumer affairs. We are a friendly team consisting of around 20 policy advisors and economists.

Within GSCT, Growth Economics is a group of 4 economists that produces analysis to influence HMT thinking on productivity. We lead HMT’s analysis on the drivers of productivity and economic rationale for growth-focused policies, using a combination of internal analysis and proactive engagement with business and academia.

About the Job

In this role, core responsibilities will include:

• Leading 4–8-week analytical projects on deep-dive issues related to growth and productivity that involve empirical work and reviewing economic literature. This helps shape HMT consensus on key issues (for example the effectiveness of policy measures, growth impacts of policy).
• Creating and driving continuous improvement initiatives for the branch, EGU and wider HM Treasury through a deep understanding of the latest productivity research, by building connections with academics and external expertise, identifying external speakers, and inviting them to speak at quarterly seminars, synthesising the latest academic literature and sharing across HMT. The role is important for acting as a link between academics and policy officials.
• Keeping up to date HMT’s core growth narrative which sets out the department’s understanding of UK growth performance and relevant policy levers.
• Being an authoritative representative for HMT on UK productivity in internal and external engagements (ex: IMF, OECD, country bilateral meetings) and coordinating sessions on productivity.
• Leading on analysis and narrative for inputting into fiscal events, for example, working with policy teams on the productivity impact of policy, feeding into Growth chapters and the speech.
• Leading the secretariat of the Productivity Board, a monthly forum for SCS coordinating productivity strategy and analysis. This involves keeping close links across HMT and delivering through others by advising presenters on what is most impactful given the audience.

About You

You will have a degree in economics or related field, or degree-level experience working in economic policy making. You will be able to deliver economic analysis, taking responsibility of scoping and leading analytical projects. Be able to build, maintain, and influence networks and work with others to deliver results. Work efficiently and meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality results and distil key messages of technical work to others, either written or verbally.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the recruitment team at [e-mail]