Senior Data Analyst (Economist)

Job summary

The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of government. We are responsible for setting, leading and delivering the vision for a modern digital government.

Our priorities are to drive a modern digital government, by:

1. joining up public sector services
2. harnessing the power of AI for the public good
3. strengthening and extending our digital and data public infrastructure
4. elevating leadership and investing in talent
5. funding for outcomes and procuring for growth and innovation
6. committing to transparency and driving accountability

We are home to the Incubator for Artificial Intelligence (I.AI), the world-leading GOV.UK and at the forefront of coordinating the UK’s geospatial strategy and activity. We lead the Government Digital and Data function and champion the work of digital teams across government.

We’re part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and employ more than 1,000 people all over the UK, with hubs in Manchester, London and Bristol.

The Government Digital Service is where talent translates into impact. From your first day, you’ll be working with some of the world’s most highly-skilled digital professionals, all contributing their knowledge to make change on a national scale.

Join us for rewarding work that makes a difference across the UK. You'll solve some of the nation’s highest-priority digital challenges, helping millions of people access services they need

Job description

This is a joint campaign for two Senior Data Analyst (Economist) roles:

1. In the Economic Analysis Team within GDS, a central team that works across all product groups including GOV.UK. This team is part of the Product Strategy, Planning and Portfolio directorate.

Our team works as a trusted partner across GDS. We help teams use evidence and analysis to plan effectively, manage performance, and achieve better outcomes for users. Our goal is simple: to make sure GDS delivers its objectives efficiently and makes the best use of public money.

As a Senior Data Analyst (Economist), you will lead economic analysis to support key priorities. This includes developing business cases for Spending Reviews and responding to emerging challenges, such as major policy or delivery changes.

You will work closely with digital product teams, providing hands-on analytical support across the organisation. This includes assessing new ideas, modelling costs and benefits, and evaluating how well programmes are delivering value. You may also contribute to high-profile programmes within the Government Major Projects Portfolio.

2. In the GOV.UK programme within GDS, embedded in the GOV.UK Policy & Strategy team

We are a multidisciplinary team responsible for strategy, engagement, policy and evaluation for GOV.UK channels and capabilities. We are a friendly team that prioritises kindness, openness and collaboration

Reporting to the Evaluation Lead, as the Senior Data Analyst (Economist) you will develop a common set of standards, guidance and products for the various GOV.UK teams to implement into product management ensuring best practice in relation to evaluating and evidencing the value delivered by their products for users and government. The role also includes supporting the delivery of planning projects that can emerge such as business cases for Spending Review bids

As a Senior Data Analyst (Economist) in the Economic analysis team, you will:

• lead the technical modelling of a strong economic case for digital investment - Apply appraisal methods and the best available evidence to develop and deliver clear, compelling business cases. Clearly articulate to senior leaders the economic case for how GDS work delivers value for money and benefits for the public and for government
• embed effective monitoring and evaluation - Use Magenta Book principles to design proportionate evaluation plans, including clear theories of change. Make sure evidence and learning are built in from the start
• test and improve through pilots and experiments - Identify opportunities to run pilots with robust evaluation. Collaborate with digital product teams to generate evidence on what works and use it to improve services and spending proposals
• assure quality of analysis and modelling - Review data, assumptions and methods to ensure analysis is credible and transparent. Strengthen the evidence base in line with Green Book and Aqua Book guidance
• work across teams to influence decisions - Build strong relationships with product, strategy and finance teams. Help teams understand problems, assess risks, and align work with GDS priorities

Person specification

We’re interested in people who have:

• experience of the applying the economics principles such as those set out in the HMT Green Book, with particular knowledge of economics business cases, economic appraisal and ROAMEF cycle.
• experience with technical modelling in Microsoft Excel
• experience providing quality assurance and rigorously interrogating unfamiliar models and analyses
• experience communicating economic analysis to non-analytical audiences
• experience of working collaboratively across teams, with excellent interpersonal skills
• experience of independently leading and delivering analytical cross cutting projects with varying teams and stakeholders.
• experience of thinking independently and show initiative on how to approach a project
• experience of delivering at pace and under challenging time constraints when necessary
• experience with Magenta book methods and techniques such as process evaluation, impact evaluation, ‘theory of change’, and/or value for money evaluation

Benefits

There are many benefits of working at GDS, including:

• flexible hybrid working with flexi-time and the option to work part-time or condensed hours
• a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25 days of annual leave, increasing by a day each year up to a maximum of 30 days
• an extra day off for the King’s birthday
• an in-year bonus scheme to recognise high performance
• career progression and coaching, including a training budget for personal development
• a focus on wellbeing with access to an employee assistance programme
• job satisfaction from making government services easier to use and more inclusive for people across the UK
• advances on pay, including for travel season tickets
• death in service benefits
• cycle to work scheme and facilities
• access to an employee discounts scheme
• 10 learning days per year
• volunteering opportunities (5 special leave days per year)
• access to a suite of learning activities through Civil Service learning

Any move to Government Digital Service from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
DSIT does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).

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