The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). We work in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth.

Job Description

We are looking for an Economist to join our team, are you ready to make a significant impact in a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation? Our Economist position is your chance to not only contribute your expertise in economics but also to shape the future of our innovative MEL initiatives. If you're passionate about using data-driven insights to influence policy and drive real-world outcomes, this is the perfect stage for you to shine.

Role Overview

Reporting to our Lead Economist, this is a fantastic opportunity to join the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Team within LGC as an Economist.

The MEL team works to evidence and communicate the impact of NIHR’s investment in health and social care research. Generating timely and fit-for purpose evidence and insight enables NIHR to be innovative, responsive and effective in supporting, managing and maximising this impact.

In this role, you will manage and feed into a number of economic impact-related workstreams within a sector that makes a difference. You will apply your knowledge and experience of economic theories and models to assist the Lead Economist in developing systematic approaches to assess the impact and value for money of that can be used in different areas of NIHR spending. In so doing, you will help the NIHR to generate economic evidence, assist with the delivery of strategic ambitions to evidence and communicate the impact of our investment in health and social care research, and help to make NIHR a sector leader in using economics to monitor, evaluate and learn from research funding activity.

The ideal candidate would have experience in health economics and economic evaluation, with a strong track record in economics more broadly and an eagerness to learn about the health and research funding sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and feed into the development of models of the NIHR’s economic impact
• Contribute to in-house economic evaluations of NIHR funding
• Scrutinise, validate, update and complement existing economic analysis within the NIHR’s growing impact case study repository
• Identify and prepare relevant datasets, conducting data analysis, and writing analytical reports for economic indicators of the NIHR’s impact
• Contribute to the management of commissioned economic impact evaluations of NIHR’s research funding
• Scrutinise, validate, update and complement existing economic analysis within the NIHR’s growing impact case study repository
• Stay abreast with the academic literature on the costs and benefits of different research activities, outputs and outcomes, and developments across the health and care research sector
• Organise and deliver training on economic concepts and briefing of economic findings for non-economist colleagues

Qualifications and Experience

Required Criteria

• Master’s degree in Economics, a closely-related discipline (e.g. Economics combined with another discipline, Business Economics, or Accounting and Finance), or equivalent experience
• Academic and/or professional experience in health economics
• Analytical skills and experience in economic and/or statistical modelling using Microsoft Excel, R or Python
• Demonstrated experience of applying economics creatively to new areas and a willingness to learn sub-disciplines of economics
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, evidenced by high-level reporting and presentation abilities
• Excellent organisational skills, including effective prioritisation and the ability to achieve targets to deadlines
• Knowledge of HM Treasury’s Greenbook guidelines

Desired Criteria

• Academic and/or professional experience in cost benefit and/or cost effectiveness analysis
• Academic and/or professional experience on economic evaluation projects and with labour market analysis
• Knowledge of research impact and an understanding of the routes to achieving it
• Experience analysing research funding
• Understanding of the role of government research funding within the broader context of industrial policy

Salary & Benefits

£47,300+ PA

Bonus - subject to company performance

25 days annual leave, plus public holidays (UK)

Enhanced contributory pension scheme

Life Insurance

Benenden Healthcare

Season Ticket Loan

Laptop, IT equipment and remote IT support

This is an office based, hybrid role, with an expectation for all employees to attend our offices a minimum of 4 days a month, which might increase, subject to team requirements.

Application

If you are excited about the prospect of joining our team and believe you possess the relevant skills and background, we invite you to apply. Please submit your CV along with a 'Statement of Suitability' that showcases your key skills and experiences in relation to the 'Required Criteria' outlined in the job description. Additionally, share your enthusiasm for working with NIHR.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

LGC strongly believes that every job applicant and employee should be valued for their individual talents regardless of age, disability, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Short listing, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, sexual orientation, marital status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, or trade union membership.