Economist and Strategy Lead for Government Economic Service

Job description

About the job

Job summary

Working at HM Treasury puts you at the heart of government, making a difference to the UK economy and ultimately to people's lives right across the UK.

Jobs at the Treasury are fast-paced, fun and can offer unparalleled perspective - not least the opportunity to advise Ministers on the decisions which directly determine the UK's prosperity. Deep in our DNA is a commitment to empowering our people: maximising individual and collective impact, with interesting work no matter your role or seniority.

Day-to-day you could be supporting Ministers to decide the right level of a specific tax or line of government spending; helping maintain the stability of financial markets; analysing the long-term trends impacting the future of the economy; or enabling this work as part of our vital corporate functions.

We are a high-performing department and proud to have outstanding staff from a wide range of backgrounds. We are also a friendly, inclusive and sociable workplace that prides itself on fostering great team spirit. Our two largest offices are 1 Horse Guards Road in London, opposite St James' Park, and the Darlington Economic Campus, which also contains eight other departments. We work seamlessly across all our sites, including Norwich, Birmingham and Leeds, as one Treasury.

We are both a 1,000-year-old institution and dynamic, forward-looking economics and finance ministry, with a strong direction set by our organisational strategy, the Future Treasury Vision. The 21st century offers huge opportunities and poses new challenges for the UK. Working at the Treasury is your chance to help the country chart the right course.

Job description

Role purpose: We are looking for a proactive economist with leadership skills, analytical experience, and good communication to drive the Government Economic Service profession vision, "to champion economics in government, and to promote the use of high-impact, high-quality economic analysis provided by excellent economists".

The GES had new leadership in 2026, and we are working to a new and exciting work programme, with opportunities to shape the profession's work, including leading a new strategy from 2027 onwards.

As role holder you will lead on co-ordinating delivery and reporting against the current GES Strategy, which sets out priorities for a profession with ~3,700 members in 50+ departments. You will use your position to deepen economics capability across the whole Civil Service, and to enhance its impact on public sector delivery and government policy.

You will provide clear and authoritative advice to GES leaders and departments across the Civil Service to ensure that governance, technical assessment, recruitment, professional development and member engagement are effective and aligned with the GES Strategyand the GES Technical Framework

You will be at the very centre of delivering and shaping best practice on behalf of senior leaders. You will build direct working relationships with Departmental Chief Economists, Directors of Analysis and other senior economists across the Civil Service.

This post is a great opportunity for an economist who can see the bigger picture and wants to build experience of working with senior leaders and leading across government.

Key responsibilities

1. Provide authoritative advice on developing the economics profession to GES leaders, including the Joint Heads of the GES. Shape and improve cross-government practice on assessment, capability and standards.
2. Lead professional economist for the GESR team. Lead the design, delivery and improvement of economic technical assessments (tests, exercises, interviews, marking frameworks) across all GES central recruitment schemes - providing expert profession voice and including work with volunteer groups and leaders to ensure excellence and consistency. Work with colleagues in GESR to shape a relevant and attractive learning offer for GES members, drawing on external expertise and peer learning.
3. Lead the technical response to the 2026 external review of GES professional assessment, developing and recommending options for updated economics testing. Coordinate implementation with GES colleagues and departments and learn from good practice outside government. Establish evaluation metrics to monitor effectiveness (e.g., pass rates, candidate experience and diversity impacts).
4. Lead delivery of the GES Strategy and development of the next GES strategy from 2027, coordinating leadership and member working groups to agree priorities, deliver actions to plan and report progress. Ensure broad diversity and inclusion commitments are translated into measurable actions and monitored. Identify delivery risks and mitigations, working with other professions on cross government capability and standards issues, including how the GES profession integrates the effective use of AI into its working, and how the GES profession responds to rapid and ongoing developments at this new frontier. Build all this into the next strategy to shape GES's work.
5. Line manage and coach the HEO GES Engagement Lead, setting clear objectives, supporting delivery, and prioritising professional development through regular feedback, stretch opportunities and performance management.
6. Oversee the GES secretariat function, supporting key cross-government boards and meetings with senior leads. Ensure high-quality agendas, papers, minutes and action tracking. Use governance forums to drive decisions across the GES profession and maintain clear communication with senior stakeholders.
7. Oversee engagement with the ~3,700 strong GES membership, including delivery of the annual GES Conference and a regular rhythm of member communications and events.Use insight and feedback to shape and improve engagement and GES profession member development across government.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date, please contact Jo McGowan [email protected].

Candidate Drop-In Session

The hiring manager will be running a candidate drop-in session to give you greater insight about the role and HM Treasury and ask any questions you might have. If you would like to join us, use the link below to join the call at the right time.

• Tuesday 25th August 3pm Link here
• Friday 28th August 9.30amLink here

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Person specification

Application Stage

Required qualifications: Qualifications and GES membership

Applicants for the role are required to be either:

1. an existing member of the GES profession or
2. meet the minimum academic requirements for GES membership as set out at: https://www.guk/government/organisations/civilservice-government-economic-service/about/membership

The relevant points are that you:

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 economics degree, at least 50% of the total course credits must be in economics. Credits are now used instead of module counts because module sizes vary, and credit weighting provides a fairer and more consistent measure of total course content. You must also have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics. In your application form, you'll be asked to confirm that you hold this qualification. You will need to provide evidence of this qualification if you are invited to interview.

The role is open to those who are not full members of the GES. You will be asked a question on this in your application form. Shortlisted candidates who are not already full members of the GES will be required to complete Phase 1 of the integrated recruitment process. This consists of a GES badging assessment designed to test whether candidates meet the GES technical standard at the advertised grade. The assessment will include a written technical assessment, a presentation and a technical interview including broader economics questions. Candidates who successfully complete this stage will progress to the role-based interview. Full details will be provided for those candidates shortlisted. The recruitment process is holistic. Candidates must successfully complete all stages relevant to them in order to be appointed to the role.

The role is also open to full members of the GES on lateral transfer or on promotion. You will be asked a question on this in your application form. The panel will include a member of the GES who is external to HMT to comply with GES promotion policy. Those who are already members of the GES do not have to sit an additional badging board as part of this recruitment. Those candidates who are already full GES members and are shortlisted will go straight through to the role-based interview set out below.

Application Form

Applications should consist of a CV including your employment history, and a 250-word statement demonstrating evidence of each of the below shortlisting criteria. Your CV and employment history won't be scored. It's used to give context to your application and support discussions at interview.

The panel will review applications and invite those that best demonstrate evidence of the shortlisting criteria below for interview. Please keep this in mind when writing your application.

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

1. Lead criterion: Seeing the Big Picture - Evidence of operating strategically, understanding the wider policy and stakeholder landscape, and aligning work to organisational or cross-government priorities. (250 words)
2. Communicating and Influencing - Evidence of building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and communicating clearly and confidently to influence decisions or secure engagement. (250 words)
3. Making Effective Decisions - Evidence of using analysis, judgement and stakeholder input to make or support effective decisions at the right level. (250 words)
4. Experience - Experience working with economics, economists, or analytical professions to deliver strategic projects, improve capability, or strengthen professional standards across all organisations (250 words)

The lead criterion is: Seeing the Big Picture

If we receive a high volume of applications, we'll first sift using the lead criterion only. Those meeting the minimum will then be sifted across all the other criteria.

Members of GES and Non Members(For further guidance please refer to the Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK)

Candidates shortlisted for interview who are not yet full members of the GES (at any grade)

There is a badging assessment focused purely on technical skills that you will need to sit first. This will consist of a written test, presentation and a technical interview. Only if you successfully pass the badging assessment with you will progress to the Civil Service interview based on the criteria set out below.

Candidates shortlisted for interview who are already members of the GES (at any grade)

You will not need to sit the badging assessment as are already badged and will go straight through to the final interview stage.

All candidates who reach the final interview stage will be assessed on the below criterion:

Interview Stage

If you are successful at the application stage and badging stage (badging only for non-members), you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Experience - Experience working with economics, economists, or analytical professions to deliver strategic projects, improve capability, or strengthen professional standards across all organisations
• Strengths
• Behaviours
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions

Interview Task / Presentation

Prior to your interview, we will contact you about a task / presentation that the panel would like you to deliver as part of the assessment. Further details will be communicated to you nearer the time.

Qualifications

Applicants for these roles are required to be either
i) an existing member of the GES profession or
ii) meet the minimum academic requirements for GES membership as set out at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civilservice-government-economic-service/about/membership

The relevant points are that you:

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 economics degree, at least 50% of the total course credits must be in economics. Credits are now used instead of module counts because module sizes vary, and credit weighting provides a fairer and more consistent measure of total course content. You must also have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics. In your application form, you'll be asked to confirm that you hold this qualification. You will need to provide evidence of this qualification if you are invited to interview.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,690, HM Treasury contributes £17,292 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).

• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus public holidays and the King's birthday.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme - Defined Benefit pension with employer contributions of 28.97%
• Parental Leave Packages - Including 6 months' occupational pay for maternity/adoption, shared parental leave options.
• Flexible & Hybrid Working - Options include part-time, job-share, compressed hours, flexitime, and hybrid working (where business needs allow).
• Advance Schemes & Discounts - Rental deposit, cycle-to-work, SmartTech, season ticket loans, and access to HM Treasury's benefits portal for a wide range of discount codes.

You can review HM Treasury's full offer here.

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, Strengths and Experience.

We will ask for some CV details in your application form, but this is for reference only and will not be scored.

Candidate GuidancePlease review the candidate guidance for an overview of the Success Profiles and STAR approach, along with top tips for applications and interviews.

Recruitment Timeline

• Closing date: 13th September 2026
• Shortlisting: From 14th September 2026
• Interviews: w/c 28th September 2026

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.

Reserve Lists

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a role immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to provide your location preference on your application form. Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer.

If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.

Those on the reserve list may also be approached for similar roles at a lower grade. If you are offered a role at a lower grade and choose to decline, you can remain on the reserve list.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Candidates cannot apply to roles in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Successful candidates will be subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database. This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This also applies to those who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the database will be refused employment.

National Security Vetting

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, successful candidates will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter-Terrorist Check.

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. You will be asked to provide residency information within your application form, and eligibility for national security vetting will be checked once the advert closing date has passed. In certain circumstances, for example if you have been working abroad on a government posting, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case-by-case basis once the advert closing date has passed.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (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

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.

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 : Joanna McGowan
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on 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 HMT by email at: [email protected]. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.