Deputy Director, Economic and Strategic Analysis

Job summary

The Analysis Group sits at the heart of the Department, providing the data, evidence and insight that underpin key decisions on trade, investment and growth. Our work supports Ministers, senior leaders and policy teams to make well‑informed choices on some of the most important economic and strategic issues facing the UK.​

We are a large, multidisciplinary community of analysts – economists, statisticians, data scientists and social and operational researchers – working across the breadth of the Department’s priorities. This gives colleagues in the Group a unique vantage point: close to policy, close to Ministers senior decision‑makers, and engaged in live, high‑impact work that shapes outcomes in real time. ​

We work as a hub at the centre of the department within the Strategy and Growth Group, leading our own projects and partnering with analysts located in spoke teams around the department. Our analysts focus on live policy priorities, while also benefiting from being part of a strong central analytical community that values professional standards, peer support and continuous innovation.​

​Within the group, the Economy and Strategic Analysis Team performs a critical role providing the analytical brain behind all of DBT’s work on Growth, the delivering of the Industrial Strategy, macroeconomic analysis and futures & foresight. It is a linchpin team, directly supporting the Director of Analysis on priority projects in a fast-paced environment.

Candidate Information Call ​

The hiring manager for this position Ben Cropper and interim postholder Dan Mawson, will be hosting a virtual call for any interested applicants to discuss the role and answer any questions. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

​This will be held via Microsoft Teams on 13th May 2026 at 10:00-10:45 (UK time). ​Please click here for the meeting link.

Job description

The Economy & Strategic Analysis (ESA) team leads analysis on economic growth and productivity within DBT. The team sits under the central Analysis Group, led by the Director of Analysis and Chief Economist Ben Cropper. ESA’s mission is to support DBT and wider Government to develop and deliver impactful and evidence-driven economic policy, by providing analytical support to the central growth strategy team and Industrial Strategy team in DBT; undertaking research and analysis to build the evidence base on challenges, opportunities, trends, and policy solutions in relationship to economic growth; and building DBT’s capability and understanding of economic policy and the UK economy. ​

​The postholder will lead a multidisciplinary analysis team comprising c.25 analysts (mainly economists, one social researcher). The postholder will directly line manage four Grade 6 analysts, each of whom lead small teams with distinct responsibilities:​

​Head of Economy, Growth & Productivity Analysis:​

• Leading briefing and analysis on the latest key economic developments and trends, including the UK macroeconomy​
• Building the evidence base on economic growth and productivity​
• Leading a business microdata unit looking at economic trends such as investment and market dynamism ​
• Building the evidence on the link between inequality and economic growth ​

​Head of Industrial Policy Analysis:​

• Leading analysis on the Industrial Strategy in relation to ‘verticals’ (i.e. sectors and technologies) ​
• Supporting analytical implementation of the Industrial Strategy, including monitoring & evaluation and delivery of eight Sector Plans​
• Providing analytical support to the Growth Policy Unit in the DBT Strategy directorate, undertaking analytical projects on economic growth

Head of Futures & Foresight Analysis:​

• Using futures and foresight tools and techniques to build the evidence base on economic growth and productivity ​
• Acting as a consultancy to DBT to support analytical and policy projects with futures and foresight tools and techniques​
• Building capability in and sharing internal and external insights from futures and foresight tools and techniques across DBT​

Head of Economic Policy Analysis:​

• Leading analysis on the Industrial Strategy in relation to 'horizontals' (i.e. cross-cutting policies such as skills and procurement) and place​
• Supporting analytical implementation of the Industrial Strategy​
• Building the evidence base on industrial policy​​

The postholder will also:​

• Support the Director of Analysis on cross-cutting and urgent priorities in relation to economic growth and domestic crises​
• Deputise for the Director of Analysis on the cross-Government Departmental Directors of Analysis Network (DDANs) and support on initiatives to modernise the analytical function within DBT​
• Provide secretariat for the Analysts for Growth Group – the analytical governance for the Growth Mission – with HM Treasury and Cabinet Office​
• Lead and participate in corporate initiatives with DBT and wider Government, as a senior leader​
• Work closely with analytical teams across Government, notably the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council analysts​
• Represent DBT externally at conferences and events on economic growth policy and analysis, including the Industrial Strategy​

Person specification

• Badged member of Government Economic Service (GES)* analytical profession or be willing to be successfully ‘badged’ as a GES member as part of the recruitment process (refer to the Candidate Information pack on page 9 for more details). ​
• Excellent leader and manager of large and expert teams, maintaining morale and delivery during challenging periods and ensuring a collaborative and high-performing culture ​
• A track record of building and leading proactive research programmes, with clear evidence of applying research and analysis to shape policy development, influence senior decision‑makers, and deliver outcomes in the area of economic growth​
• Be an excellent written and verbal communicator of technical material to expert and non-expert audiences​
• Ability to easily build relationships and stakeholder networks inside and outside Government, and use these to influence outcomes​
• Be a curious and confident expert in the area of economic growth analysis, including investing in building your own capability and promoting innovative tools and techniques within your team​​

*The Government Economic Service (GES) is the recognised profession for economists within the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and HM Government (HMG) more widely. External candidates, including those from the private sector, academia, consultancies or international organisations, are strongly encouraged to apply.​

Qualification requirements for GES

To apply for full or associate GES membership, the postholder must:​

• have a first or upper second-class 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.​
• have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Department for Business and Trade contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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

How to apply​​​

Please follow the online instructions on the Civil Service Jobs website to apply for this role. Applications must be submitted no later than 23:55 on 24/05/2026. ​

​You will be asked to upload the two documents outlined below. It is essential you add your full name to both documents:​​

1. A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role. Please provide reasons for any gaps within the last two years.​​​
2. A Supporting Statement of around two pages of A4, providing examples of how your experience meets the essential criteria.​​​

​Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification. ​​​

​If you encounter any issues or are unable to apply online please contact SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk in the first instance​.

DBT now host Senior Civil Service (SCS) Candidate Support sessions for those wanting to learn more about the application and recruitment processes for SCS roles within DBT, if you are interested, please register for a session here - https://registration.crowdcomms.com/dbtscsrecruitment​

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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 : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email at SCSRecruitment@businessandtrade.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Civil Service Commission Complaints​

Attachments

DD, Economic and Strategic Analysis - Domestic Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 6709kB)Deputy Director, Economic and Strategic Analysis - Accessible Candidate Pack Opens in new window (docx, 152kB)