13 Jun Senior economic consultant role at SI

We are seeking to grow our economic development team in response to client demand and are therefore seeking applications for a senior economic consultant. We expect applicants to demonstrate good knowledge of economic development in the UK. Whilst the majority of work would be expected to be in the economic development field, you will be required to support other areas of the business as needed. Likewise, we are looking for people who are comfortable both with analytical assignments and face-to-face research and facilitation (e.g. focus groups / workshops).

We expect all candidates to demonstrate:

• ability to lead / undertake qualitative and quantitative socio-economic research on local and regional economies, e.g. analysing strengths, weaknesses and future prospects of local labour markets and key employment sectors;
• ability to build positive working relationships with clients and stakeholders from many backgrounds;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Further, candidates must:

• be self-motivated, well-organised, and quick learners;
• be able to work effectively in a team as well as under your own initiative;
• be committed to equality of opportunity and our ethos of collaboration with our clients;
• be digitally confident (i.e. competent in MS Office, and able to master other applications for analysis, reporting, and presenting).

Job description

Key tasks:

• Carrying out quantitative research and data analysis on economic, labour market, regeneration and other related issues as part of a project team. This will include desk research using secondary reports, the internet, and existing datasets.
• Qualitative research – preparing for, attending and writing up face-to-face interviews, focus groups and workshops, and carrying out interviews over the telephone.
• Analysing research findings, drawing conclusions and pulling out recommendations for clients.
• Supporting the drafting, amending and finalising of reports and other documentation to go to clients, again as part of a project team.
• Carrying out general administration for projects (e.g. setting up telephone interviews and meetings).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead projects or discrete elements of projects, providing effective supervision to individuals and judging priorities.
• Manage resources to ensure projects are delivered on time and to budget, by translating project objectives into manageable work plans, employing effective project management techniques, supporting a culture of accountability, and identifying and managing risks and capacity issues.
• Promote quality work and team delivery, supporting demanding standards and benchmarks for work.
• Review projects and performance and identify learning, supporting continuous improvement.
• Able to promote good working relationships and, with advice from senior colleagues, to act promptly and positively to tackle project performance issues.
• Support the monitoring of business performance for key projects by understanding implications of timely and efficient delivery of projects

Person Specification

Essential:

• at least 5-8 years of experience in a comparable role; 
• excellent knowledge of economic development, public policy, and regeneration in the UK;
• demonstrable experience of tender-writing and work-winning in an economic development context;
• demonstrable experience of project management, planning and organisation in a consultancy context.

Desirable

• experience of evaluation in an economic development context;
• specialist expertise in niche areas of economic development policy (e.g. innovation policy) or specialist technical experience (e.g. evaluation methodologies);
• an advanced degree in economics or a related discipline;
• knowledge of the UK economic development consultancy market;
• demonstrable track-record of building and maintaining client relationships in an economic development context.

Anticipated salary for this role is £30,000 – £40,000 per annum depending on experience.

Staff Benefits Include: competitive annual leave, pension, permanent health insurance, childcare vouchers and cycle to work schemes. We are also committed to ongoing professional development.

How we work: You will have a line manager who will look after your personal development, help you manage your workload, and be your first point of contact within the company. On individual assignments you will work to different project managers and it is likely that you will work on more than one project at a time. We will expect you to take an active interest in the work we do and the policy areas we work in, and to further your own learning in these areas.

Shared Intelligence is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a policy of treating all its employees and job applicants equally. It is our policy to take all reasonable steps to employ and promote employees on the basis of their abilities and qualifications without regard to race, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation. We will appoint, train, develop and promote on the basis of merit and ability alone.

To apply for this post please submit a CV (four pages max.) and a one-page covering letter explaining why you feel suited to this role. Send your CV and letter to solutions@sharedintelligence.net