Economic Modeller

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the is the department for economic growth. We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the country.

We are recruiting for two exciting posts in the highly impactful DBT Modelling Unit.

The Modelling Unit is a central team of economists and operational researchers within the department, tasked with leveraging a range of technical expertise and modelling tools to shape a range of policy priorities. We maintain and develop analytical framework and approaches and apply them to relevant policy questions. In our work we frequently engage and collaborate with external experts and academics. Our research areas cover international trade, sustainability, domestic policies, and strategic issues.

Examples of some recent questions we have been working on are:

1. What are the impacts of tariffs on the UK and how should the UK respond?

2. How can the UK compare different policy options for its relationship with the EU?

3. How should the UK fund subsidies for renewables?

4. How can industrial policies be modelled?

5. What are the benefits and trade-offs involved in signing Free Trade Agreements?

The team develops and implements a range of empirical and simulation tools, including Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, macro-econometric models, forecasting models, econometric methods such as gravity models and difference-indifference and bespoke partial equilibrium models.

The team is fun, collaborative, ambitious and intellectually curious. Colleagues are supported to lead on both long- and short-term projects. The team leads on model development, where colleagues are encouraged to think strategically and propose innovative projects to answer the government’s policy questions of tomorrow. We are also agile with how we deploy our models – shaping policy discussions with robust evidence as they develop.

We work closely with teams across the department and collaborate on projects with many other government departments, giving candidates an excellent opportunity to apply their technical skills to influencing key government priorities. The roles offer a rare balance between technical detail and strategic oversight. The postholder will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the literature and build strong relationships with academics and international organisations.

We are seeking two Grade 7 modellers to join the Modelling Unit. Post holders will tend to specialise in either econometrics or simulation modelling, depending on experience and preferences, with future opportunities to learn and use other models in the DBT suite. They will be the lead analyst with responsibility for the robustness and appropriate use of particular models.

Responsibilities:

1) Leading on significant modelling exercises. Collaborate with analysis and policy colleagues across department to produce robust and nuanced evidence base.

2) Engaging closely with academia and instigating field-leading research projects to develop the evidence base aligned with UK Government objectives.

3) Ensuring high quality analytical output that supports and informs colleagues.

4) Effectively interpreting outputs and communicating analysis with impact. This may involve writing reports as well as presenting findings to a non-technical audience.

5) Working collaboratively with the wider modelling community in DBT and across government departments to maintain and develop DBT’s suite of analytical models.

6) The role likely to involve line manage responsibilities for one assistant analyst.

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