If you experience technical issues during the application process we have found using a different browser or device in the first instance can be a quick fix.

If those don't work please email the Resourcing Hub at recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk with your application and/or CV before the submission deadline. Any applications received after the deadline may not be considered.

Job summary

This vacancy is for candidates wishing to apply under GES/GSR professions as current members or as applicants that are eligible for membership.  It is also open to applications from current members of the GSS.

If you are not currently a member of the GSS but meet the entry criteria to join this profession, please apply to vacancy number 307344.

Levelling up is the UK Government’s top domestic priority and this is your chance to be part of an analytical team that is at the heart of this programme of work.

The Local Growth Analysis division is a multi-disciplinary team of economists, statisticians, and social researchers that works across both the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and the Department for Business and Trade. The division provides high quality, innovative analysis that is instrumental in the delivery of the Government’s agenda on Levelling Up and local economic growth across the UK.

You will be a key member of a G6-led team that leads on evaluating Levelling Up funding programmes. The team offers a fast-moving, friendly, and intellectually stimulating environment, where you can help evaluate some of the Government’s highest-profile programmes, building a high-quality evidence base of what works, and why. The team is delivering evaluations for several multi-billion-pound Levelling Up programmes, including the Towns Fund and the Levelling Up Fund.

You will work closely with senior officials and ministers across HMG, and within local government, as you lead on the evaluation of the Towns Fund and contribute to the evaluation of other Levelling Up programmes.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of an inclusive, welcoming team that is advancing our collective understanding of what works for Levelling Up. Our insights are essential for designing and delivering policies that deliver real change for communities and places across the UK.

We are a team that is keen to look beyond Whitehall, be creative, forward thinking, and inclusive in our approach, and we welcome applicants with diverse experiences, backgrounds and characteristics.

Job description

Ever wanted to be at the forefront of developing an innovative new package of evaluations which will be at the heart of levelling up across HMG? Really getting to understand what’s happening across localities in the UK, understanding the impacts of levelling up expenditure - at national, regional, local authority and even smaller scales.  And helping to understand what works in local economic growth.

The role will lead the Towns Fund evaluation team to improve the evidence base on levelling up. The post will particularly appeal to analysts with a grounding and experience in applying different evaluation techniques and who have a solid understanding of Government guidance on evaluation, particularly the HMT Green Book and Magenta Book guidance.

Key responsibilities will include:  

·         Overseeing the evaluations of the £3.2bn Towns Fund, Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund programmes, working closely with evaluation contractors and other stakeholders to ensure the projects are delivered successfully.

·         Contributing to decisions about the design and delivery of the process, impact, and value for money evaluations for these programmes. 

·         Working with monitoring and secondary administrative data, to ensure it is of sufficient quality and that it can used as part of the evaluations.

·         Working with key stakeholders, including programme teams, other government departments, and local authorities, to ensure their priorities and any concerns are being addressed.

·         Liaising and working with the What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, academics, and other external evaluation experts.

·         Working flexibly across the team’s high-profile programme of evaluations – contributing to, and potentially leading on, evaluations for other Levelling Up programmes and strategic projects aimed at building the evaluation capability within DLUHC.

Person specification

Key skills

This is a high profile post, requiring technical evaluation, analytical and project management skills.

Essential skills:

·         Strong technical knowledge, and experience, of designing and running impact evaluations, ideally involving a range of different methods.

·         Strong project management skills covering all aspects of design, delivery, and reporting.

·         The ability to manage primary data collection, showing consideration for effectiveness and efficiency, for example, minimising respondent burdens.

·         Experience of analysing administrative and/or secondary data using innovative techniques, ideally for the purposes of evaluation.

·         Quality assuring the use and interpretation of data, analysis, and research.

·         Experience of delivering to tight and multiple deadlines and under pressure, whilst ensuring the quality of your work and that of contractors.

·         Able to communicate complex analysis in a clear and coherent way.

·         Able to establish strong working relationships with a range of policy and analytical colleagues and relevant external agencies.

·         A good knowledge and/or experience of using analytical tools (e.g., MS Excel, MS Power BI, R, Python).

Desirable skills:

·         Experience in managing research contractors to deliver complex projects.

·         Knowledge, and experience, of designing and running evaluations involving quasi-experimental designs.

·         Basic knowledge of economics.

If you are interested in applying but are not sure you have all the skills, please do apply  and give us the opportunity to consider you as a candidate. We are open to supporting learning on the job.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions

• Leadership

• Working Together

• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Technical questions will be based on the professional technical competencies

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,697, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities contributes £13,418 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 average employer contribution of 27%

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

We are for everyone 

At DLUHC we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We promote equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment and a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation. 

We would strongly recommend that applicants get in touch with the vacancy manager to find out more information about this role.  

We are for everyone 

DLUHC want to bring in a diverse workforce at all levels.  

Our application system is designed to remove as much bias as possible from the recruitment system – this means that a hiring manager does not know your name, your details, see your whole application in one go (or have your CV at review stage unless stated otherwise).  

Your answers are randomised and chunked up. This means that each assessor views sets of responses to questions for example all candidates’ responses to ‘Seeing the Big Picture’ rather than seeing a candidate’s full application. The science behind this is that recruitment can be subject to ordering and fatigue effects and we want to reduce this as much as possible.  

Most of our campaigns utilise multiple assessors and so it is possible that each of your answers would be viewed by different assessors. 

When writing your application, remember: 

• The assessor won’t be reading your answers sequentially.  

• Do not assume that the same assessors will have read all of your answers.  

• If talking about something in your first answer, make sure that you write the second answer as if you had not written the first (and so on!) 

At sift, we will be assessing 

Technical (Lead Element): In no more than 250 words, please describe how you have applied your technical skills in designing and/or delivering a complex evaluation?

Behaviour 1 - Making effective decisions

Behaviour 2 - Leadership

Behaviour 3 - Working together

Behaviour 4 - Delivering at pace

There is a 250 word limit per question. 

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial sift using the lead behaviour listed in the advert. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progress straight to assessment/interview  

The interview will be of a blended nature consisting of:  

Behaviour - Making effective decisions, Leadership, Working Together, Delivering at pace

Technical 

Candidates will be expected to prepare a presentation, details of which will be sent on invitation to interview. 

In the full campaign we will test the below Success Profile Elements: 

Behaviours: Making effective decisions, Leadership, Working Together, Delivering at pace

Technical: 

Economic competences 

Economics: Application of knowledge 

Economics: Analysis of data 

Economics: Effective communication 

Social research competences 

Social research: technical skills 

Social research: using and promoting social research 

Statistics competences 

Statistics: Acquiring data/Understanding customer needs 

Statistics: Data analysis 

Statistics: Presenting and disseminating data effectively 

You will be provided with a question in advance of the interview and asked to prepare a presentation of a specific length addressing this question.  This presentation will be followed by questions from the panel. 

Candidates invited to interview will be given full instructions on the presentation being used. 

The presentation will be followed by a 45 minute competency based interview. 

Candidates who are not members of a government analytical profession may also need to pass an entry test for their profession as part of the selection process. 

We do not consider direct CV applications to our Recruitment mailbox – you must apply for this role via the application link on Civil Service Jobs 

Please note that near miss offers may be made at the lower grade to candidates who do not meet the grade criteria for this campaign. 

Grade 7 salary 

• The salary for this role is £49,697 (National). 

• For existing civil servants, the usual policy on level transfer and promotion will apply and is non-negotiable.

• In addition, subject to membership of the appropriate professional body, a non-consolidated analysts allowance of £3,500 pa will be paid.

Please note that the average employer pension contribution is based upon the National minimum salary for this role. Should your agreed starting salary for this role be different, the average employer pension contribution will be calculated accordingly. If you are a Secondee, this will not apply as you will remain on your home organisation’s terms and conditions.     

Analysts in DLUHC must be affiliated to a Government analytical profession.  This is usually one of the following: 

• Government Economic Service (GES) 

• Government Operational Research Service (GORS) 

• Government Social Research Service (GSR) 

• Government Statistical Service (GSS) 

Stage 1: Filter and eligibility questions, entry tests 

Candidates who successfully pass the initial filter and eligibility questions will be asked to confirm which of the analytical professions they belong to or are applying to be part of.  This information will be used to progress successful applications to the appropriate professional checks element of the process.  

Existing civil servants who are currently a member of one of these professions will retain their professional membership in this role.  Applicants on promotion will be assessed for promotion within their profession as part of the selection process.  Please make any current affiliation clear in your application.  

External candidates or civil servants without a current profession affiliation may be considered for accreditation to one of the professions as part of the recruitment process.  If you are not currently a member of a government analytical profession you will be put through the membership process for your chosen profession as part of this application.  You must pass the membership process for your application to be successful.  If you do not pass the relevant profession entry test your application will not be taken further.  See the Guide for Analytical Candidates document for more details of the membership process for the relevant profession.  

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview. 

Please refer to the Guide for Analytical Candidates which provides: 

1 - The technical competences for each analytical profession – GES, GORS, GSR and GSS. 

2 - details of the entry requirements to each analytical profession 

3 – details of the entry process for each analytical profession 

If you are not a member of the GSS profession and wish to apply as a statistician, please apply to vacancy number 307344.

Government Economic Service (GES): 

To possess or expected to have a first or upper second class honours degree with at least 50% of the modules in economics, or have a masters in economics.  Modules must have covered both micro and macroeconomics to qualify. 

If you graduated more than five years ago then you must have examples of how you have maintained your economic knowledge on the competency section of the application form. 

Government Social Research (GSR): 

Hold an undergraduate degree, at a minimum of 2:1 or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in a social science subject.  A qualifying social science subject is one which contains substantial social research methods training (comprising around one third of modules taken in the course).  It should cover quantitative methods and at least three of the five topics listed below. 

Mandatory: Quantitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e. questionnaire design, sampling, weighting), data analysis (e.g. statistical analysis) 

Three of: 

• Systematic/literature reviews 

• Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e. interviewing, focus groups, ethnography), data analysis (e.g. thematic analysis) 

• Interpretation of data (qual & quan), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusions 

• Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation 

• Application of ethics to research 

Relevant degree subjects in the social sciences can be varied.  Potential members need to demonstrate the substantial social research methods training they have taken and not merely the social science degree subjects. 

OR 

Professional Experience route: Hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g. an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. The degree requirement for Main Stream applicants is an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2 with no need for a postgraduate degree. In any case, social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research. 

Government Statistical Service (GSS): 

a first or second class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar) 

or 

a higher degree, e.g. a MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar) 

or 

have worked in a statistical or data science field and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development (via a log book) in statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (level five) 

or 

have achieved or are on track to achieve a level four apprenticeship including at least two years in a statistical or data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development in statistics or data analysis (via a log book signed off by a manager or mentor who are members of the statistical profession) 

Competencies 

You will need to address the technical competences for your profession in the application and at interview. 

Professional technical competences are listed below: 

Economic competences 

Economics: Application of knowledge 

Economics: Analysis of data 

Economics: Effective communication

Social research competences 

Social research: technical skills 

Social research: using and promoting social research 

Statistics competences 

Statistics: Acquiring data/Understanding customer needs 

Statistics: Data analysis 

Statistics: Presenting and disseminating data effectively 

BENEFITS: 

Transfers across the Civil Service on or after 4 October 2018: 
Any move to DLUHC from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk 

For further information about the benefits available to DLUHC employees, please see the attached Candidate Pack. 

GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION: 

• Manchester

• Leeds

• Bristol

• Wolverhampton

• Darlington* 

There may be opportunities for candidates to work flexibly depending on the business needs. This will be discussed with the vacancy manager on a case-by-case basis if you are successful for the role. 

*Please note: The Darlington Economic Campus (DEC) is a pioneering new cross-government hub which will bring together people across departments and public organisations to play an active role in the most important economic issues of the day. The work of the Campus will make a real difference to people both across the UK and internationally. There will be substantial career opportunities and exciting prospects - a career at the Campus means you will be working at the heart of Government, with access to the benefits and fantastic opportunities offered by the civil service. This role is based at DLUHC and we will be joined on the campus by: 

• HM Treasury  

• Department for International Trade 

• Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy  

• Office for National Statistics  

• Department for Education 

For further information on the DEC, please take a look at the attached DEC candidate pack. 

SIFT AND INTERVIEW DATES: 

Sifting is envisaged to take place from 29/08/2023 with interview dates to be confirmed. All interviews are currently being held remotely via videocall. 

Reserve List 
 
In the event that we identify more appointable candidates than we currently have posts available, we will hold applicant details on a reserve list for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. This may include roles at a lower grade. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact recruitment@levellingup.gov.uk to be removed from the reserve list. 

Candidate Pack Information 

Please see attached Candidate pack for further information. 

Before starting your application it’s very important to make sure that you are eligible to apply and meet the Civil Service nationality requirements. All candidates are expected to read the information provided in the DLUHC candidate pack regarding nationality requirements and rules 

Internal Fraud Database 

The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented.  

For more information please see- Internal Fraud Register 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

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 Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK

• nationals of the Republic of Ireland

• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)

• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service

• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service

• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

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.

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.