Senior Economist

Communities & 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.

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

This role supports the delivery of the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), formerly known as the Adult Education Budget (AEB), in London. It involves significant cross-team collaboration to deliver the Mayor's vision for adult education in London.

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

• Provide analysis and data processing to support key business processes and policy development, including support for ASF data publication, London Learner Survey, and evaluation programs.
• Conduct ad hoc analysis with statistically robust methodology to ensure ASF funding aligns with the Mayor's priorities.
• Support delivery teams with contract management by providing timely intelligence and performance metrics, including calculated payments.

We seek enthusiastic individuals who are passionate about using data to inform policy for Londoners' skills and education. You will:

• Provide high-quality information and advice to inform policy development, focusing on skills provision and funding under the Adult Skills Fund.
• Manage and analyze ILR and other program data to support the Adult Education Budget.
• Maintain an understanding of London's skills and labour market trends at regional, national, and international levels, establishing the GLA as a data authority.
• Present data and insights through reports, presentations, and event organization.
• Identify and experiment with new data science techniques to support projects, sharing knowledge within the team and publicly.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• A degree or professional qualification in economics or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in research or complex analysis to inform policy; familiarity with datasets like ILR, NPD, HESA, or HMRC is desirable.
• Proven ability to translate non-technical needs into analytical projects.
• Skills in analyzing large datasets and survey data.
• Strong communication skills, including data visualization.
• Ability to quickly learn new tools and programming languages such as R, Python, STATA, or SQL.

Behavioral Competencies:

• Research and Analysis: Gathering, testing, and drawing conclusions from diverse data sources to benefit policy and practice.
• Communicating and Influencing: Presenting clear, credible arguments to engage stakeholders.
• Problem Solving: Analyzing situations from multiple perspectives to find workable solutions.
• Stakeholder Focus: Understanding and addressing the needs of those impacted by our work.
• Strategic Thinking: Using an understanding of the bigger picture to identify challenges and opportunities, turning these into actionable visions.

How to Apply:

Submit an up-to-date CV and a personal statement (max 1500 words) demonstrating how you meet the criteria. Ensure files are under 1.5MB and named with the job reference number.

Questions About the Role:

Contact Kathryn Petrie at Kathryn.petrie(at)london.gov.uk.

Assessment Process:

Applications will be reviewed by a panel. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview/assessment. Date to be confirmed.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We value London's diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, especially from underrepresented groups. We provide reasonable adjustments during recruitment for candidates with disabilities.

Benefits:

Hybrid working up to 3 days in the office, competitive salary, 30 days annual leave, interest-free season ticket and bicycle loans, and a pension scheme.

Additional Information:

All information must be accurate; false information can lead to disqualification. Successful candidates will undergo a DBS check and possibly additional screening.