Economist/Data Scientist

Job Description

Salary: £38,430 - £52,080

Contract Type: Permanent / Loan

Working Pattern: This post is available on a full-time, part-time or job-share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.

Location: London

Looking to elevate your career with an outstanding opportunity at the Office for Budget Responsibility? If you want a pivotal role in crafting our economic analysis and forecasts, take part in ambitious projects, and use your proven skills to drive a significant impact, then this could be the role for you!

About the Team

Our economic modelling and analysis team of six works closely with other economy teams at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). We are responsible for managing the OBR’s main macroeconomic model, forecast database, and other supporting models. We produce bespoke analysis for the forecast, design economic scenarios, and lead the economy chapter of the twice-yearly Economic and fiscal outlook. We are involved across the OBR’s wider analytical and research agenda, including publishing working papers and developing the OBR’s data and modelling infrastructure. We also contribute to the OBR’s other key publications, including the Fiscal risks and sustainability report and the Forecast evaluation report.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

1. Manage the OBR’s macroeconomic forecast database and support running the main macroeconomic model during forecast events.
2. Help develop the OBR's data science capabilities, including helping to build new tools and refine existing ones to use data effectively, improve our presentation of data, and streamline tasks.
3. Lead on specific parts of the economy forecast and draft relevant sections of the Economic and fiscal outlook.
4. Form part of the wider economy team’s standing analytical capacity, helping to deliver projects like re-estimating forecast models or designing scenarios, as well as responding to Budget Responsibility Committee requests on topical economic issues.
5. Contribute to other OBR’s wider analytical programme, such as articles, working papers, the Fiscal risks and sustainability report, and the Forecast evaluation report.

About You

This role will suit you if you have a broad understanding of macroeconomics, or the ability to use data science techniques including a good knowledge of at least one major coding language (preferably R or Python). You should be able to analyse and accurately interpret data from a range of sources to support informed decisions, identifying positives, negatives, risks and implications. You should be able to collaborate with others to identify areas for improvement and ways to simplify processes, both suggesting innovative ideas and supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to change. The role will require you to have an ability to work flexibly across multiple competing workstreams, prioritising the most important parts and delivering high-quality work to deadlines, even in challenging circumstances. You should also hold an undergraduate degree in economics or an analytical subject, or similar on-the-job experience.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

1. 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).
2. Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours).
3. Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28.97%.
4. Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
5. A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club).

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 hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk.