Assistant Economist in Darlington

Are you interested in working as an economist at the heart of government, influencing decision making that affects the whole of the UK? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

About the Team

Economic Risks works flexibly and collaboratively with teams across HMT and in other departments to improve risk management best practice. The team builds modelling and analytical capabilities that are used to influence policy and strategy in responding to a wide range of risks to the economy.

Beyond systematically monitoring risks to the economy, the team plays a central role in analysing a range of macroeconomic risks, including climate change. The team leads on the Group’s input to the Covid-19 Inquiry and is co-secretariat for the Economic Risks Group and Climate and Environment Analytical Sub-Board.

Within Economic Risks, the Climate and Energy branch assesses the risks of climate change, net zero and energy issues for the UK economy and ensures that analysis informs HMT policy. The branch provides high profile analysis that provides exposure to senior leaders and strategic decision making. The branch works closely with multiple teams, including colleagues in policy and spending teams, Fiscal Group and International Group, and with external partners including other departments, the Bank of England and international organisations.

About the Job

The role provides an opportunity to work on some of the most important long-term macroeconomic issues facing the UK to influence better policy outcomes for households and businesses. The post-holder will contribute to work across the branch and HMT’s analytical community, ensuring evidence influences policymaking.

The post-holder will lead analytical projects on climate change and the net zero transition but will also be expected to work flexibly to contribute to work across the broader Economic Risks portfolio. Exact responsibilities will vary according to policy and economic priorities, but the post-holder can expect to manage, deliver, and communicate economic analysis to support policy development, while building expertise in macroeconomic modelling, with training and support provided.

Core responsibilities in the role include:

·        Lead analytical projects, responding to economic and policy priorities through managing and delivering impactful analysis and advice on the macroeconomics of climate change and the net zero transition.

·        In particular, the post-holder can expect to lead significant elements of a high-profile project to develop a detailed assessment of the economic impacts of climate damages. This will involve collaborating with colleagues across HMT to set direction for the project, engaging with analysts across government and external experts to develop sectoral estimates, building technical expertise to incorporate climate damage models into existing macroeconomic frameworks, and interpreting results and communicating the strengths and caveats of the approach to senior stakeholders in presentations and reports.

·        Build HMT’s wider understanding of climate macroeconomics though developing expertise in quantitative analysis and modelling. The post-holder will lead on application and development of the NiGEM climate model and will have opportunities to work across the branch’s suite of macroeconomic models, including Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling.

Please see the job advert on Civil Service Jobs for a more detailed list of core responsibilities.

About You

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us a stronger organisation, better at developing policy that is reflective of the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.

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 27%

·        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 (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network)

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