Chief Economist (Basé à London)

Join to apply for the Chief Economist role at St Helena Government.

Salary: £55k pa, depending on experience and qualifications, plus an attractive benefits package which will include international supplement, pension contribution, and relocation allowance.

Enjoying unique lifestyle opportunities, St Helena Island is a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Although better placed to develop economically and socially as a result of opening our international airport in 2017, we are not at the stage of self-sufficiency and therefore remain dependent on UK government aid.

The Chief Economist position will form part of the Treasury Portfolio, and the mission statement is ‘Guiding St Helena on the path to prosperity’. In doing so, it is responsible for coordinating the business of government in a coherent and effective manner and overseeing the delivery of the 10 Year Plan, the SHG Strategy, and Sustainable Economic Development Strategy.

SHG has recently published a new Sustainable Economic Development Strategy 2023-33 (SEDS), to help us achieve the Ministerial Agenda. Therefore, we are seeking a suitable candidate to head up the Government’s Economic service providing economic advice and guidance on all aspects of government policy across the organisation, reporting directly to the Financial Secretary.

In this integral role as head of the government’s economic function, you will:

• Provide support for the overall financial resilience of the Public Service, ensuring value for money and return on investment.
• Support the preparation and oversee the management of macroeconomic forecasts and produce inflation forecasts to inform the government’s medium-term expenditure framework.
• Input consideration of economic development issues, focusing on developing policy measures that incentivise private sector investment in key strategic sectors, with economic input into regulatory issues.
• With the Head of Strategic Policy, provide socio-economic assessments of key policies and projects as well as economic evaluation where necessary, leading and updating the annual Minimum Wage process and advising on labour market strategy.
• Prepare for and support the visiting annual financial aid mission from the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, liaising with them on all economic issues relating to St Helena.
• Support the reform process by leading the development of tax policies and support the development of wider immigration, welfare, land use, investment, and other policies.

As the Chief Economist, you will be required to have the following essential requirements:

• First degree level in a relevant subject (with a significant economics component).
• At least 10 years of experience in economic analysis and development.
• Experience of business and financial planning in a financially constrained context, involving some hard-to-predict budgets, supported by sound financial management skills.
• Background that encompasses performance management at organisational and individual staffing level, strategic planning, project management, policy development at Board or equivalent level, managing budgets, resources, and funding, and operating in a highly political environment.
• Ability to build positive and productive relationships, with colleagues, politicians, and other stakeholders and are adept at analysing and interpreting information to develop solutions or solve problems.
• A track record on the development and writing of policy, showing political sensitivity and awareness having worked closely with, and advised, ministers and senior management on a formal and informal basis.

In addition, you must demonstrate our core values of fairness, integrity, and teamwork and use your diverse expertise and experiences to ensure your time on the Island has the broadest benefit to St Helena.

As an officer funded through the Technical Co-Operation Programme, you will be expected to share your knowledge and skills beyond the workplace contributing to workforce, community, and capacity development in St Helena.

Our Benefits Package Includes:

• An International Supplement, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh.
• Relocation Allowances, full details of which are in the Overseas Vacancy Information at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh.
• Annual Pension Contribution of 7.5% of salary.
• Annual Leave of 30 days per annum plus Public Holidays.

How to Apply:

An application form is available at sthelenapublicservicejobs.sh where further information can also be found. Applications must be sent to and received by 22 March 2025. To be considered for this role, you must complete our application form. Failure to do so will mean that your application will not be considered. Please do not submit your CV.

The Public Service positively accepts applications from all members of the community regardless of race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion, or belief, and will consider all applications on the basis of merit, in accordance with the person specification.