Lead Economist - BBC Analysis

This role sits within the Media and International Directorate, whose goal is to drive sustainable and inclusive growth in the media sector, that serves the needs of audiences and protects the future of public service media. Within the Directorate there are both analysts and policy officials who work together to deliver this goal. The Directorate is made up of teams leading on fascinating policy related to: TV and Broadcasting (including specifically the BBC specifically), Advertising, Press, Radio, and the International strategy for the Department.

The successful candidate will report to the lead analyst for the Directorate, and will be embedded in both the analytical team and BBC policy team. The analytical team is made up of a mix of analytical professions, and policy team with a range of backgrounds including policy and project management., This role provides an economist from any career background with a unique opportunity to play a vital part in the upcoming BBC Charter Review, and is an excellent fit for anyone looking to take on an exciting career challenge. This programme of work will determine the roles and responsibilities for the BBC from 2028 over the next decade, which comes at a time when the media landscape is rapidly evolving, and Government consider what the future of media consumption looks like. Some of your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the analytical programme of work to prepare the Department for the next BBC Charter Review. You will build on the outputs of the live BBC Funding Review, and use economic theory and analytical modelling to test the impact of future interventions, alongside implementing a future research programme. You will gain the insights to support evidence-based decision making for the future of the BBC.


• Providing strategic direction on BBC analysis, to drive effective delivery against the team's priorities, and longer-term Departmental objectives.


• Being a member of the Government Economic Service, and an active leader across the Media and International Directorate and wider DCMS analytical community. You will manage at least one junior analyst, engage with policy colleagues to increase the impact of analysis, and seek out opportunities for analytical collaboration across the Department., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:


• Delivering at Pace


• Seeing the Big Picture


• Working Together, A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 3 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.


• In your application form you will be asked whether you are currently a member of the GES Profession and, if you are not, provide evidence against the membership requirements of the profession.


• A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.


• A technical statement of 250 words demonstrating your economics experience with regards to Application of Knowledge in the GES Technical Framework (Level 3 / Grade 7 / Expert)


For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the technical skill statement. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the 'Application and Interview Guidance' document attached to the job advert.

For further information on how you will be assessed at interview please see the Candidate Information Pack attached at the bottom of the webpage.
The interview process will assess behaviours, and technical skills across the GES Technical Framework (Level 3 / Grade 7 / Expert), and will include a
presentation.

The behaviours and technical skills to be tested at interview are:

• Delivering at Pace


• Seeing the Big Picture


• Working Together


• Level 3 - Grade 7 - Expert - Application of Knowledge (GES Technical


Framework)

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use
visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview., If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only., Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Department for Culture, Media and Sport 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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the 'Information for Applicants' document.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process.

In order to request an adjustment, please:

Complete the 'Assistance required' section on the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or a verbal test rather than a written one.,
• UK nationals


• nationals of the Republic of Ireland


• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK


• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)


• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)


• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020


• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
  
  Badged membership of the Government Economic Service, or eligibility and willingness to become a member. Full criteria can be found in the GES membership guidance.

+ Membership requires a minimum 2.1 honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.

• Excellent quantitative analytical skills and a proven ability to identify and solve problems with economic-based analysis.


• Clear and confident in communicating, both verbally and written.


• Experience of building valuable relationships with stakeholders.


• Proactive in planning and developing a programme of work, taking ownership to deliver high-quality outputs, to time.


Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of how financial and/or commercial markets function.


• Experience managing/leading a team and/or project., This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills., Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Alongside your salary of £49,839, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £13,456 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We're committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home


• 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years' service


• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%


• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice


• 3 days of paid volunteering leave


• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave


• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year


• Occupational sick pay


• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice


• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks


• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work


• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!