Economist

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 346976**Salary**:

- £45,260 - £49,062- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Senior Executive Officer- Pay Band 3**Contract type**:

- Fixed term
- Loan
- Secondment**Length of employment**:

- 31st March 2025**Business area**:

- FC - Forest Services - The Forestry Commission are the Government's forestry experts, and our role is to protect, improve, expand and connect England's trees, woodlands and forestry sector.**Type of role**:

- Economist
- Environment and Sustainability**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

LocationAbout the job

**Job summary**:
In the face of the climate emergency, the role of trees and forests has never been more critical, offering sanctuary for both people and wildlife and improving climate resilience. The UK government is dedicated to significantly increasing woodland coverage by the end of this Parliament, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050, and achieving broader environmental targets. The Forestry Commission, in collaboration with the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), is at the forefront of expanding, protecting, improving, and connecting woodlands across the country.

The Forestry Commission (FC) are the Government’s forestry experts responsible for enabling landowners and managers, businesses, civil society organisations, and local communities to protect, improve and expand England's woodlands. It achieves this through regulation, incentives and advice.

We seek a motivated economist to join us for 12-months, with the possibility of extension. This role is a unique opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary team that is shaping the future of forestry in England. Positioned within Forest Services (FS), the role involves providing analytical support to help develop effective forestry and woodland policies.

If you're passionate about the role of forestry in creating a sustainable future for England and eager to contribute to this vision, we'd love to hear from you.

**Job description**:
The main purpose of this role is to provide economic analysis and input to support the development of future forestry policy. This role offers the unique opportunity to join a dynamic and passionate team in this high profile area of work.

In this role, you will blend economic analysis, policy support, and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities include:

- Contributing to economic analyses and research to inform forestry policy development and government initiatives.
- Assisting in the preparation of economic cases for funding bids and policy proposals.
- Collaborating with policy, analysis, and grants experts in a multidisciplinary environment.
- Identify the need for, commission and manage evidence and analysis work to develop the evidence base surrounding forestry economics.
- Present complex economic information accessibly to various stakeholders.
- Engaging in projects that support the Nature For climate Fund, England Woodland Creation Offer and the Environmental Land Management schemes. Supporting grant/incentives design, updates, and evaluation.
- Responding to quick turnaround requests for information, drawing on existing work and modelling. Balancing ad hoc work such as this with ongoing, longer term responsibilities.
- Working with both internal and external stakeholders, including Defra, to support evidence-based policy development.
- Increase awareness and communicate the use of economic analysis, data and research in the Forestry Commission and the wider Defra group.
- Support as required on Woodland Carbon, Nature Markets and Green finance analysis.
- Collaborate with fellow economists in FC, Defra and Cross border.

**Person specification**:
ESSENTIAL
- Ability to quickly grasp new concepts and work proactively.
- Strong analytical and quantitative analysis skills. Have the ability to perform high quality analysis to strict deadlines which can be used to draw policy recommendations.
- Clear communication skills, with the ability to explain economic concepts in an understandable way.
- Background in economics, evidenced by education (degree with at least 50% of the modules economics related) or relevant experience.
- Experience of economic appraisal, development of evidence-based business cases, and evaluation.
- Proficient in using Excel and other relevant software packages.

DESIRABLE
- Familiarity with natural resource, natural capital, or environmental economics principles.
- An understanding of, or interest in, policy development related to land management or forestry.

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

- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together

**Technical skills**:
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection pro