Head of Labour Market Branch

About HM Treasury

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

About the Group

Economics Group

The Economics Group leads HM Treasury’s analysis of developments in the UK economy and advises ministers on the implications for the Government’s economic strategy. It provides expert economic analysis and advice for Ministers. The Group’s data hub is transforming how the Treasury uses data across its entire business. The Group collaborates with external experts on the UK economy,  including the Bank of England, Office for Budget Responsibility  and leading academics. Economics Group provides support for the UK Government’s economic and social research professions, including running centralised recruitment and the annual conferences. 

About the Team 

The Labour markets, Human Capital, Supply and Regions (LHSR) team is at the centre of the Treasury’s function as an economics Ministry, providing economic analysis, briefing and policy advice on key trends in the UK economy. We lead analysis of the latest developments in supply, labour markets, population, regions and human capital, and deliver high-quality analysis to inform policy advice. The team works flexibly across branches and priorities. We are a friendly, inclusive and supportive team, and work closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the department and across government.

About the Job 

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a high-profile leadership role in the Treasury. The branch leads the Treasury’s analysis of the labour market and plays a critical and important role in policy development across the department. This has recently included leadership of the evidence base and analysis to support the Chancellor’s employment package in Spring 2023.

As Head of Labour Market branch, you would be expected to provide leadership to a team of six analysts, including two direct reports – providing strategic and analytical direction, delegating work effectively, supporting the development of staff and managing the wellbeing of the branch. The post holder will be responsible for planning and overseeing a programme of policy-relevant analytical work, working closely with colleagues across the department. A successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate their experience leading teams, empowering staff to work together and creating an inclusive environment which supports people to deliver during challenging and fast-paced periods. A strong background in economics and analysis, and in communicating and explaining complex economic issues clearly to non-experts is required. Candidates will also be expected to demonstrate they can work collaboratively with colleagues, building and managing effective relationships across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Key Accountabilities for this role include:

1. Lead and manage the labour market branch – providing strategic direction, delegating work effectively and supporting the development of staff. The post holder will be encouraged to take an active role in the leadership of the team, and to contribute to the corporate work of Economics Group, including by undertaking a leading corporate responsibility.
2. Oversee the branch’s programme of labour market analysis, developing the department’s evidence base on the labour market and the outlook, including wage growth, labour demand and supply, inactivity and unemployment
3. Lead and oversee the Treasury’s regular monitoring and assessment of the labour market, leading our interaction with ministers and senior officials on the latest developments and interpretation of labour market trends. Develop strong working relationships with the producers of labour market statistics, including the Office for National Statistics.
4. Lead the analytical advice on labour market policy, working collaboratively with teams across the department and government to ensure that the branch’s analysis underpins and shapes policy development, and delivering well-evidenced assessments of the economic effects of labour market policy.
5. Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with external stakeholders on labour market analysis, representing and actively pursuing Treasury interests in dialogue with other government departments, researchers, international organisations, the Bank of England and Office for Budget Responsibility.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Tom Pybus (Tom.Pybus@hmtreasury.gov.uk)

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.   

1. Technical skill: strong analytical judgement, including an ability to use evidence and expertise to lead and deliver high quality and influential analytical work

2. Seeing the Big Picture: evidence of excellent judgement in providing strategic direction to policy-relevant analytical work.

3. Leadership: ability to successfully lead, support and motivate a diverse team, including in fast-paced and uncertain environments.

4. Communicating and Influencing: ability to clearly and effectively communicate key messages from analytical work and to build strong, collaborative relationships to achieve progress on shared objectives

The lead criterion is: Technical skill: strong analytical judgement, including an ability to use evidence and expertise to lead and deliver high quality and influential analytical work

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Required Qualifications: 

Degree in economics or related field, or degree-level experience working in economic policy-making. Please set out what your experience is in your application.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 14th September 2023 – 12:00 – 12:30 Click here to join the meeting
 Tuesday 26th September 2023 – 17:30 – 18:00 Click here to join the meeting

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

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

• Strong analytical judgement, including an ability to use evidence and expertise to lead and deliver high quality and influential analytical work.

• 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)

• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)

• Generous parental and adoption leave package

• Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room

• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving

• Access to a retail discounts and cashback site

• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes

• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity (e.g. women in the Treasury, ethnic minority network, LGBT* network, faith and belief network).

Flexible working arrangements:   HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they are able to enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; working from home, compressed hours and job sharing.

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites – Darlington, London, and Norwich, with the expectation of achieving 50% attendance in the office as a minimum requirement, along with the flexibility of working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

Job contact :

• Name : Tom Pybus
• Email : Tom.Pybus@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk