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Job description

The NICS Economist Profession is managed centrally within the Department of Finance (DoF) by the Head of Profession in Strategic Policy Division. Economists are deployed across the NICS on long-term loan contracts. The Profession consists of over 150 staff, from Staff Officer (Assistant Economist) level through to Chief Economist / Head of Profession (Senior Civil Service Grade 5). Economists are typically ‘loaned-out’, on a long-term basis, centrally by DoF to NICS Departments , with occasional secondment opportunities with other non-departmental public bodies.

Responsibilities

• Providing advice and support to the Communities Minister, Permanent Secretary and Top Leadership Team
• Overseeing the response to Assembly, media and public queries and representing the Department at Assembly Committees and other forums as required
• Leading a Unit consisting of three teams of economists and generalists to undertake analytical projects and produce high quality outputs using complex datasets
• Leading a Unit consisting of three teams of economists and generalists to lead the Department’s Economic and Social Research Programme
• Leading a Unit consisting of three teams of economists and generalists to lead the Department’s business case and evaluation function and provision of advice and guidance
• Leading a Unit consisting of three teams of economists and generalists to lead the Division’s strategic support function (including Director’s Support Team, data governance, finance, workforce planning and Casework administration)
• Managing staff working in the Unit including oversight of professional development, performance management and a focus on staff engagement
• Ensuring compliance with Departmental policies including, but not limited to, Performance Management, Information Management and Managing Sickness Absence
• Developing a strategic work programme to support delivery of the Departmental Strategy, policy development and operational delivery
• Developing the use of innovative methods to improve and enhance the service the Division provides to the Department
• Leading the dissemination of outputs clearly and effectively to a range of users
• Developing effective communication with internal and external users to best understand how to tailor outputs to meet their needs
• Contributing to the management of the Division’s budget, undertaking corporate governance and achieving value for money

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• At least a second-class honours degree (2:2) with Economics as a major component
• At least 2 years direct Senior Management experience, gained within the last 10 years, in providing economic research/analysis and advice to support decision making.
• At least 2 years direct Senior Management level experience of leading and developing effective, professional analytical teams to make a significant contribution to strategic decision-making and to policy formulation and delivery
• At least 2 years direct Senior Management level experience of representing your organisation with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders operating at senior levels within their organisations

Desirable Skills

• Should it be necessary to shortlist candidates to go forward to interview, the panel will carry out an objective evaluation of the breadth and depth of information provided by candidates in response to eligibility criterion 3.

Further Information

NICS Application form only, Vacancy closing date Friday 14th November 2025 at 12 noon. Applications from Protestants, females, young people (people under the age of 35), people with a disability and people from minority ethnic communities are particularly welcomed for this post. The Northern Ireland Civil Service is an Equal Opportunities Employer. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit

Application Information

Visit the recruitment service website www.nicsrecruitment.org.uk (Please quote reference number: IRC318886)