3936 - Economist - ADR Wales

Job summary

We are recruiting a Grade 7 Economist to lead and deliver high-quality economic analysis using linked administrative data, working closely with Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales. The role has a primary focus on health research, supporting policy development, evaluation, and strategic decision-making across health and social care, while retaining the flexibility to contribute to other priority Welsh Government analytical areas (e.g., education, labour markets, local government, equality and inclusion, justice, economy and climate).

Job description

The postholder will provide authoritative economic advice, lead analytical projects from scoping to publication, and help strengthen the Welsh Government’s capability to use administrative and linked data to answer complex policy questions.

Person specification

The post holder will:

Lead economic analysis and research using administrative/linked data.

• Design and deliver robust analytical projects, including evaluation, causal inference, cost and impact analysis, distributional analysis, and scenario appraisal.
• Apply appropriate economic frameworks (e.g., welfare economics, public finance, labour economics, health economics) to real-world policy problems.

Develop and assure methods and quality

• Set analytical standards for projects (methods, assumptions, reproducibility, peer review, documentation).
• Quality-assure outputs and coach others to improve technical practice and analytical writing.

Work effectively in the ADR Wales ecosystem

• Collaborate with ADR Wales partners and data owners to scope projects, access data through secure environments, and navigate information governance appropriately.
• Translate policy questions into feasible research designs and data specifications; manage analytical risks and limitations transparently.

Influence policy through evidence

• Deliver analyses that aligns with the strategic direction of the Welsh Government.
• Provide clear, decision-ready advice to senior officials and policy teams, explaining trade-offs, uncertainty, and implications.
• Communicate complex findings in accessible formats for varied audiences (policy, operational, technical, external).

Lead delivery, stakeholders, and capability

• Lead multi-disciplinary project teams (economists, statisticians, social researchers, data scientists) as required.
• Manage stakeholders and expectations, prioritise workload, and deliver at pace without compromising quality.
• Contribute to the wider analytical community and support capability-building in administrative data methods.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics, or a joint degree with at least 50% economics modules, or a postgraduate degree in economics (or equivalent that meets GES membership requirements).

Memberships

This is a Government Economic Service (GES) badged post. It is open to existing GES members (level transfer or promotion) and to applicants who meet the GES eligibility requirements and are willing to join the GES on appointment. Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Application of knowledge
• Effective communication

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage processStage 1Application FormStage 2Interview

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• 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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : economistrecruitment@gov.wales
• Email : economistrecruitment@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : sharedservicehelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

Recruitment principles and complaints
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.