Economist and Strategy Lead, Government Economic Service

We seek a proactive economist who demonstrates leadership, strong analytical skills, and effective communication to advance the Government Economic Service profession vision. This vision is “to champion economics in government, and to promote the use of high-impact, high-quality economic analysis provided by excellent economists.”

About the Team

The Government Economic and Social Research Team (GESR) is a friendly, dynamic group that supports the Government Social Research (GSR) and Government Economic Service (GES) professions. They help attract, develop, connect, and keep skilled analysts throughout the government.

We work across government to make sure social researchers and economists have the resources required to deliver high-quality analysis and evidence for policy makers across all UK Government and public service functions. We also partner with external organisations (e.g. Royal Economics Society, Society for Professional Economists, Discover Economics) to improve evidence use in policy making, keep GES members updated with the latest analysis techniques, and promote diversity in perspectives and analyst hiring.

The team is divided into Strategy and Operations groups. Together, they deliver all policies and commitments in the GSR and GES Strategies. They work closely with senior leaders. This is a high-profile team in both areas, offering many chances to engage with senior collaborators, develop leadership skills, and grow professionally inside and outside HMT.

Diversity and inclusion of people and ideas are central to our mission. You must be committed to role modelling the positive and inclusive behaviour we expect of our membership.

The team works across two locations, London and Darlington, and occasional travel is encouraged between the two. If long-distance travel between sites is difficult for you, a range of reasonable adjustments can be arranged.

About the Job

In this role, you will:

1.      Provide authoritative advice on developing the economics profession to GES leaders, including the Joint Heads of the GES.

2.      Lead professional economist for the GESR team.

3.      Lead the technical response to the 2026 external review of GES professional assessment, developing and recommending options for updated economics testing

4.      Lead delivery of the GES Strategy and development of the next GES strategy from 2027.

5.      Line manage and coach the HEO GES Engagement Lead.

6.      Oversee the GES secretariat function, supporting key cross-government boards and meetings with senior leads.

7.      Oversee engagement with the ~3,700 strong GES membership, including delivery of the annual GES Conference and a regular rhythm of member communications and events.

As the role holder, you will coordinate delivery and reporting for the current GES Strategy. This strategy outlines priorities for a profession with 3,700 members across more than 50 departments. You will use your position to improve economics capability throughout the Civil Service and increase its impact on public sector delivery and government policy.

You will deliver clear and decisive advice to GES leaders and departments across the Civil Service. Your role ensures governance, technical assessment, recruitment, professional development, and member engagement are efficient and consistent with the GES Strategy and the GES Technical Framework.

You will be at the very centre of delivering and crafting guidelines on behalf of senior leaders. You will build direct working relationships with Departmental Chief Economists, Directors of Analysis, and other senior economists across the Civil Service.

This role offers a great opportunity for an economist who thinks strategically and seeks to develop experience working alongside senior leaders and managing efforts throughout government.

About You

The successful candidate will have evidence of operating strategically, understanding the wider policy and collaborator landscape, and aligning work to organizational or cross-government priorities. You will have evidence of building positive relationships with senior partners and communicating clearly and confidently to influence decisions or secure engagement. You’ll have evidence of using analysis, judgment, and input from interested parties to make or support effective decisions at the right level.

Lastly, you will have experience of working with economics, economists, or analytical professions to deliver strategic projects, improve capability, or strengthen professional standards.

Applicants for the role are required to be either:

i)                   an existing member of the GES profession or

ii)                 ii) meet the minimum academic requirements for GES membership as set out in the GES membership.

Please review the full Civil Service advert and role profile for full details of the badging assessment required.

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 28.97%

·      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

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.