Job at a glance
Job summary We are recruiting a Grade 7 Economist to lead and deliver high-quality economic analysis using linked administrative data, working closely with Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales. The role has a primary focus on health research, supporting policy development, evaluation, and strategic decision-making across health and social care, while retaining the flexibility to contribute to other priority Welsh Government analytical areas (e.g., education, labour markets, local government, equality and inclusion, justice, economy and climate).
Job description The postholder will provide authoritative economic advice, lead analytical projects from scoping to publication, and help strengthen the Welsh Government’s capability to use administrative and linked data to answer complex policy questions. Person specification The post holder will: Lead economic analysis and research using administrative/linked data. Design and deliver robust analytical projects, including evaluation, causal inference, cost and impact analysis, distributional analysis, and scenario appraisal.
Apply appropriate economic frameworks (e.g., welfare economics, public finance, labour economics, health economics) to real-world policy problems. Develop and assure methods and quality Set analytical standards for projects (methods, assumptions, reproducibility, peer review, documentation). Quality-assure outputs and coach others to improve technical practice and analytical writing. Work effectively in the ADR Wales ecosystem Collaborate with ADR Wales partners and data owners to scope projects, access data through secure environments, and navigate information governance appropriately.
Translate policy questions into feasible research designs and data specifications; manage analytical risks and limitations transparently. Influence policy through evidence Deliver analyses that aligns with the strategic direction of the Welsh Government. Provide clear, decision-ready advice to senior officials and policy teams, explaining trade-offs, uncertainty, and implications. Communicate complex findings in accessible formats for varied audiences (policy, operational, technical, external).
Lead delivery, stakeholders, and capability Lead multi-disciplinary project teams (economists, statisticians, social researchers, data scientists) as required. Manage stakeholders and expectations, prioritise workload, and deliver at pace without compromising quality. Contribute to the wider analytical community and support capability-building in administrative data methods. Qualifications Applicants must have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics, or a joint degree with at least 50% economics modules, or a postgraduate degree in economics (or equivalent that meets GES membership requirements).
Memberships This is a Government Economic Service (GES) badged post. It is open to existing GES members (level transfer or promotion) and to applicants who meet the GES eligibility requirements and are willing to join the GES on appointment. Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Working Together Delivering at Pace Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Application of knowledge Effective communication Benefits Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Things you need to know Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience.
Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and inter