Enquiry Executive

Job summary

Join the House of Commons Library and help deliver the trusted research and information that supports parliamentary democracy. As an Enquiry Executive in the Economic Policy and Statistics section, you will work alongside subject specialists to provide MPs and their staff with accurate, impartial and accessible information on a wide range of economic and statistical issues. From answering research enquiries to contributing to briefing papers on topical policy issues, your work will directly support Members in carrying out their parliamentary responsibilities.

Job description

As part of the Research and Information team, you will support specialist researchers across a wide range of economic and statistical topics, including the economy, trade, public spending, skills, incomes, poverty and labour market statistics. Working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment, you will help respond to research enquiries from MPs and their staff, contribute to the production of briefings on topical issues and parliamentary debates, and assist in delivering high-quality information services that are trusted across Parliament and beyond.

This role is offered on a hybrid working basis, with an expectation of you spending 40% of your time in the office.

Find out more about working at the House of Commons.

Person specification

• You are comfortable in dealing with numerical information and spreadsheets and keen to enhance and develop these skills.
• You are able to use research skills to find and assess appropriate sources. You have experience of finding reliable, accurate and relevant information. You understand the importance of providing impartial and trusted research for MPs.
• You communicate clearly both orally and in writing and can explain complex information to diverse and non-specialist audiences.
• You are able to plan, prioritise and organise your own workload to meet deadlines, while maintaining high quality standards.
• You are able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, and will uphold our principles of equality, diversity, inclusion and political impartiality at all times.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,529, House of Commons contributes £9,133 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

In addition to your salary, we offer an attractive range of benefits including but not limited to:

• Generous annual leave starting at 30 days and increasing to 35 after one full working year.

• Enrolment in the excellent Civil Service pension scheme with an average employer contribution of 27%

• Flexible working options that help you find a balance including enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption leave, caring leave and alternative working patterns.

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

• CV and Criterion 1 (numerical skills) and Criterion 2 (research and analytical skills). To apply for this role, please submit statements responding to the below two questions (up to 500 words per response).

In the application form there will be two boxes labelled Criterion 1 and Criterion 2 – write your answers to the questions below in these boxes.

Criterion 1: Numerical skills

• Please give us an example of a time when you used numerical information with spreadsheets or other tools to achieve a goal.
• What was the situation, what did you do, and what were the results? Please be specific.

Criterion 2: Research and analytical skills

• Please give us an example of a time when you used your research and analytical skills to find reliable, accurate and relevant information.
• What was the situation, what did you do, and what were the results? Please be specific.

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Following the application deadline, you will be sent a link to two online tests, on numerical skills and verbal reasoning. These will each take about 30 minutes.

If we receive a very large number of applications for this role, it is possible that may need to add additional stages to the recruitment process. We will communicate with you as soon as we can to explain any additional steps.

Second stage:

Based on our assessment of your answers to the questions in the application form and your performance in the online tests, we may invite you to an in-person day, in London. This will involve an interview and a test, as well as a chance to find out more about Parliament and what we do. The in-person days are expected to take place in late September and will be communicated to you at the earliest possible point. If you are shortlisted for interview, the interview questions will be shared with you in advance.

More information on the application process can be found in the Application Support Pack attached.

Additional Information

Please ensure that you anonymise your application by removing any identifiable factors from your CV or Supporting Statement.

Please note that most job offers will be made at the minimum of the salary range, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Information Session

As part of the process, we will be running virtual information sessions on MS Teams for you to find out more about this role.

These sessions will be on:

• Wednesday 19 August, 12:00 – 13:00
• Tuesday 25 August, 13:00 – 14:00

To register to attend, . If you are an internal staff member, please email Georgia Pearse (Recruitment Advisor) to receive the Teams invite.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@parliament.uk

Attachments

R&I Application Support Pack Enquiry Executive Opens in new window (pdf, 2728kB)