Economist

**About Us**:
**THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE CARRICK YARD INVESTMENT**

The Innovation & Change team in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories, where we go above and beyond for our residents - in all sorts of pioneering ways. Our work has the ability to have profound impact on residents’ lives. By being smart and courageous with the council’s finances means we can achieve more for our residents.

Take the Carrick Yard housing development in Luton Street. When a big international building firm couldn’t find a sales partner, we stepped in to create a joint venture partnership and underwrite any unsold units to protect our investment. Then when we felt a big banking partner would be overcharging the venture for financing the development, we decided to finance it ourselves. The result? 171 homes are now under construction, leading the redevelopment of the Church Street area, whilst the council is projecting a potential return on investment of almost 14% - far in excess of anything that can be achieved on cash deposits in current market conditions.

And why does this success matter? Because it allows us to invest even more in public services that are the lifeblood of our communities.

**The Role**:
As an Economist you can make your own powerful contribution at the heart of our Strategy & Intelligence Directorate’s Economics and Data Science Unit.

Strategy & Intelligence plays a high profile role in defining our Fairer Westminster strategy - which includes work to tackle climate change, regenerate Oxford Street and integrate smart technology into residents’ homes to better support social care.

A key member of its Economics and Data Science Unit, you’ll directly influence policy. That includes helping with our Economic Development Plan, building socio-economic Ward profiles and writing Cabinet Member briefings. You’ll also evaluate schemes like Westminster Wheels, a paid cycle mechanics training programme, and use novel data sets to shape our Cost of Living Strategy.

In turn, the team’s a passionate, highly skilled group from a broad range of disciplines. Expect a mix of both independent and collaborative projects - as you deliver a broad spectrum of work for a central London authority with a national and international profile.

Please refer to the **Job Description** for more information.

**About You**:
We’re looking for a proven economist with good knowledge of applied economics and quantitative analysis. Degree-educated (with at least 50% of micro and macroeconomics modules), you’ll be used to going beyond the analysis of national and regional datasets, to interpret findings and draw appropriate, insightful conclusions.

Well organised and happy to balance competing demands; you’ll be a confident communicator able to explain complex topics to non-experts. It’s also a given that you’re a champion of the power of economics to deliver positive change.

**What We Offer**:
Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.