JOB DESCRIPTION

June 2016

Job title: Senior Economist Department: Policy and External Affairs

Team: Research and Evaluation Job holder: New Post

Reporting to: Research Manager

Aim

  • Responsible for developing economic and statistical analysis that can underpin Crisis’ policy and campaigning work
  • Provide in-depth understanding of the way in which policy and other changes impact on the housing market and homelessness.

Dimension

  • Support the Policy and External Affairs department

Circumstances

  • Based in London
  • 35 hours per week
  • Fixed term post for 6 months
  • Some evening and weekend work (including spending occasional overnight stays) will be required and time off in lieu will be given in accordance with Crisis TOIL policy

Salary

  • £36,000 per annum

Organisational Chart

Principal Accountabilities

  • Oversee development of Crisis’ strategic economic and analytical capability and work with policy, campaigns and communication teams to ensure this is evidenced in our policy and campaigning calls.
  • Work to raise the profile of Crisis’ economic analytical work internally and externally to influence our key audiences.
  • Represent Crisis at a range of levels, co-ordinating and participating in briefings with Ministers, MPs, civil servants, other organisations and relevant policy makers and representing the organisation on public platforms.
  • Lead on economic and statistical analysis including cost benefit analysis and impact assessments of Crisis’ policy and campaigning work.
  • Provide internal and external briefings on economic trends and their impact on housing market and homelessness.
  • Gain in-depth knowledge on specific areas of policy through joint work with the policy and housing teams at Crisis and lead on the relevant relationships, policy and influencing work
  • Provide expert advice on appropriate methodologies (including cost benefit analysis and return on investment) for undertaking analysis and apply them in project work.
  • Provide expert advice and analysis on a range of government and independent data sources on the economy, housing and homelessness.
  • Lead or support the development of research plans, research instruments and sampling design, commissioning of experts/agencies for research, analysis, reporting and dissemination of research findings on time, to budget, and to high quality.
  • Build and maintain effective relationships across Crisis, including key colleagues across the policy and external affairs department and with client services staff.
  • Develop and maintain a network of external relationships and partnerships including academic institutions, research firms, NGOs and donors, and Government counterparts.
  • Ensure the use of evidence is maximised, by working with colleagues across the organisation
  • Report on outcomes and recommendations to colleagues across the organisation as appropriate to facilitate improvements and learning points

General accountabilities

  • Actively encourage and support member involvement within Crisis
  • Develop and maintain an understanding of Crisis and the needs and circumstances of homeless people
  • Comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act
  • Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in the light of the main purpose of the job

Person specification

Essential

  1. Advanced data analysis skills, with an understanding of a range of statistical techniques, including multivariate and segmentation or clustering techniques.
  1. Experience using data to provide insights and actionable recommendations.
  2. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to communicate clearly and assertively with a wide range of audiences and to present complex information in a user friendly way.
  3. Experience of producing high quality policy reports, and to deliver research findings on time and to a high standard.
  4. Strong political understanding and knowledge of the policy making process
  1. Experience of quantitative data analysis software such as STATA, R or SPSS
  2. Strong project management skills, with the ability to support several research projects at once within set timeframes and able to work independently at speed and under pressure when required.
  1. Extensive experience of, and evidence of successfully working with, decision-makers, parliamentary and civil service contacts in a busy policy environment.
  1. Ability to represent Crisis in meetings and on public platforms
  1. Strong team player with track-record of working cross-organisationally.
  2. Experience of planning and coordinating research and analysis with multi-disciplinary teams.
  3. A degree or equivalent experience in economics or related subject
  4. Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion

Desirable

  1. Knowledge/experience in housing and homelessness or other social policy area
  2. Post graduate degree in Economics

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.