Analyst

Salary: £33,850 pa to £42,350 pa depending on skills and experience. In addition, we offer flexible benefits fund of 15% which is paid on top base salary and is fully pensionable, as well as a range of competitive benefits - check them out in the Benefits section on our website. 

HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential. In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities.  

High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) is recruiting for one economist role in the “Value-for-money Analysis” branch and one economist role in the “Wider Economic Impact Analysis” branch of the “Benefits and Analysis team”. Candidates will be considered for roles in both branches, but there will be an opportunity at interview to express a preference if desired.  
The post-holders will provide analytical support relating to economic analysis and appraisal of the High Speed Two (HS2) Scheme.  The post holders will use their knowledge of economics and skills to combine quantitative and qualitative analysis to produce advice for HS2 Ltd colleagues and stakeholders within the Department for Transport to ensure that investment decisions and Government approvals are based on high-quality evidence.  

About the Role:

• Applying appropriate economic concepts, standards, and other general techniques to reach robust conclusions and using a range of tools and techniques to produce high-quality analysis to tight deadlines;
• Selecting, analysing, and handling data to produce evidence-based advice, including working with outputs from appraisal tools and commercially sourced databases;
• Applying appropriate economic concepts, standards, and other general techniques to reach robust conclusions and using a range of tools and techniques to produce high-quality analysis to tight deadlines;
• Preparing written materials suitable for senior approval and upward communication, ensuring analysis is practical and targeted, and clearly draws out conclusions and follows best practice in quality assurance;
• Applying economic theory creatively to new areas and being proactive in improving approaches to economic evaluation as new information and methodologies emerge;
• Building trusted relationships with HS2 Ltd colleagues and stakeholders within the Department to ensure that analysis meets their requirements;
• Work collaboratively with analysts across the Benefits and Analysis Team, contributing to our joined-up evidence base.
• Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies, and procedures on EDI.

About You:

Skills:

• Ability to apply, and advise on, economic tools and quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques and synthesise evidence from a range of sources to support evidence-based investment decisions;
• Ability to provide effective and appropriate written and oral communication of economic analysis to stakeholders from different backgrounds;
• Ability to analyse data and identify patterns and trends in Microsoft Excel or other analytical tools, including managing large and complex datasets.
• Ability to analyse and handle data to support policy advice and generate evidence-based conclusions, following best practice in quality assurance;
• Ability to critically evaluate information and evidence, to support team members in managing more complex projects;
• Ability to respond flexibly and rapidly when needed, as well as to take a longer-term perspective about your work and its impact;

Knowledge:

• An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Economics, or a closely related discipline (E.g., Economics combined with another discipline) or equivalent experience. 
• Knowledge of the appraisal of projects, programmes, and policies to show impact and value for money, e.g., public sector appraisal (HMT Green Book, Magenta Book, DfT Transport Analysis Guidance).
• Knowledge of economic analytical tools/methodologies, and the ability to interrogate a range of input data and identify trends or patterns using Microsoft Excel based models.

Type of experience:

• Experience of producing analysis using analytical tools/software such as Microsoft Excel, and communicating analysis verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences including non-specialists;
• Experience of, or enthusiasm for working in a multi-disciplinary team-based or project environment, quality-assuring analysis conducted by peers, and contributing to the wider work of a team.