Senior Economist

Job title: Senior Economist

Salary: £51,029

Grade: G8

Location: Union Street

Contract type: Permanent Full Time

Team: Funding Policy and Systems (Skills and Employment)

Directorate: Communities & Skills

 

Communities & Skills

Collaborative, open, inclusive and fair - we work with and through partners to ensure Londoners can shape healthy, empowered and productive lives. Communities and Skills is led by Executive Director, Tunde Olayinka and is comprised of the following units: Civil Society & Sport, Communities & Social Policy, Group Public Health Unit, Skills and Employment and Health, Children and Young Londoners.

 

About the team

 

The Funding Policy and Systems team sits within the Skills and Employment Unit and has a range of responsibilities, including economic analysis, evaluation, data processing and policy support. The economics side of the team (Complex Analysis and Statistical Publications team) work closely with delivery and policy teams to support policy and delivery decisions making.

 

You can find out more about the work we contribute to on the Skills and Employment datastore page including our team’s analysis of the London Learner Survey and our bi-annual Adult Skills Fund data publication.

 

About the role

 

This role has been created to support the delivery of the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) (previously known as the Adult Education Budget (AEB) and related programmes in London. It will require considerable cross team working to deliver the Mayor’s vision for adult education in London.

 

This will include working with the Skills and Employment Unit and other GLA colleagues to: 

• provide analysis and data processing required to operate key business processes or develop policy, including support for the ASF data publication, London Learner Survey and evaluation programmes;
• conduct ad hoc analysis, incorporating statistically robust methodology as needed, working with policy and delivery colleagues, to help ensure ASF funding can best support the Mayor’s priorities; and
• support delivery teams to carry out contract management by supplying timely intelligence and performance management metrics, including calculated payments;

 

 

What your day will look like

 

We’re looking for people who are enthusiastic about using data and evidence to support policy development for Londoners around the skills and education system, work effectively both independently and within a team, and who want to use their skills to make a real difference to the future success of London and the lives of its citizens. You will:

•  Provide high quality information and advice to inform the development of policy by the GLA, with a focus on supporting the GLA’s on-going responsibility for skills provision and funding under the Adult Skills Fund.

 

• Manage and analyse Individualised Learner Record (ILR) and other programme data to help develop and manage the GLA’s Adult Education Budget (AEB) programme.

 

• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of London’s skills and labour market and the forces and trends at regional, national and international levels that affect it, ensuring that the GLA is seen as an authoritative source of data, analysis and commentary in these areas.

 

• Present data and commentary to colleagues and other stakeholders through written material, verbal presentations and help with the organisation of seminars, conferences, and similar events.

 

• An important part of the role will be to identify and experiment with new techniques as needed to support delivery of data science projects, such as complex statistical analysis, or automation and systems architecture, and to share this knowledge with the team or with the public.

 

 

Skills, knowledge and experience

 

1. A degree or professional qualification in economics or a related subject, preferably to post-graduate level, or an ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge through professional experience in economics or a related field.

 

1. Successful track record of conducting research and / or complex analysis to inform policy and strategy development. Experience of working with the Individualised Learner Record or similar datasets (e.g. National Pupil Database, Higher Statistics Agency Data, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs data or the London Learner Survey) is desirable.

 

1. Substantial experience of translating the needs of non-technical staff into actionable analytical/data science projects.

 

1. Skills in the analysis and interpretation of large complex computerised datasets and survey data.

 

1. Evidence of clear personal, verbal and written communication skills, and of ability to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences effectively, including using data visualisation techniques.

 

1. Ability to quickly research and learn new modelling tools and techniques. Strong proficiency in analysing data or building reproducible processes using code, or with the ability to quickly learn new programming languages e.g. R, Python, STATA or SQL.

 

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES

 

1. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 3 indicators of effective performance

• Expands networks to gain new information sources for research and policy development
• Identifies and implements methods to ensure intelligence is of a high quality
• Encourages others to analyse data from different angles, using multiple perspectives to identify connections and new insights
• Tailors research investment in line with likely impact for Londoners and policy priorities
• Retains a bigger picture view, ensuring research recommendations are appropriate and practical for the GLA and its stakeholders

 

1. COMMUNICATING AND INFLUENCING

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

 

1. PROBLEM SOLVING

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

 

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving

 

1. STAKEHOLDER FOCUS

… is consulting with, listening to and understanding the needs of those our work impacts and using this knowledge to shape what we do and manage others’ expectations. 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Seeks to understand requirements, gathering extra information when needs are not clear  
• Presents the GLA positively by interacting effectively with stakeholders
• Delivers a timely and accurate service
• Understands the differing needs of stakeholders and adapts own service accordingly
• Seeks and uses feedback from a variety of sources to improve the GLA’s service to Londoners

 

1. STRATEGIC THINKING

…is using an understanding of the bigger picture to uncover potential challenges and opportunities for the long term and turning these into a compelling vision for action.

 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Works with a view to the future, prioritising own and others’ work in line with GLA objectives
• Briefs and prepares team to accomplish goals and objectives
• Communicates the GLA’s strategic priorities in a compelling and convincing manner, encouraging buy-in 
• Balances own team’s needs with wider organisational needs
• Identifies synergies between team priorities and other relevant internal agendas

 

How to apply

 

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

 

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

 

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g. “CV – applicant name - 012345)

If you have questions about the role

 

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Kathryn Petrie would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at Kathryn.petrie@london.gov.uk

 

 

Assessment process

 

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

 

If shortlisted you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

 

The interview/assessment date is: To be confirmed

 

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments, changes or do anything differently during the recruitment process, please let us know by emailing Victoria Shearer on resourcingteam@london.gov.uk

Reasonable adjustments will be made on a case-by-case basis, but some (non-exhaustive) examples include: 

- Providing extra time in assessments and interviews; 

- Providing communication support such as a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter during the interview; 

- Providing questions in advance of the interview; 

- Holding the interview/assessment in an accessible building; 

- Holding interviews in different formats – such as over the phone or via a video call.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview, or if there is one, move forward to the next phase of the recruitment process, for example a test.

 

Benefits

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

 

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening. 

 

Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)