Fiscal Policy Officer

This Higher Executive Officer loan sits in the Northern Ireland Office on a 24-month fixed-term basis. It supports senior officials and Ministers with policy, research and coordination on economic growth and fiscal sustainability in Northern Ireland. The work centres on budget tracking, drafting briefings, parliamentary questions and FOI responses, and following working groups with HM Treasury and the NI Department of Finance.

Only existing civil servants and accredited NDPB staff may apply, and CTC vetting plus five years' UK residence are required.

• Track, compile and quality-check economic data to keep an accurate evidence base
• Draft briefings, PQs, FOI responses and background notes for ministerial meetings and fiscal events
• Monitor official-level working groups with HM Treasury and the NI Department of Finance, tracking action logs and deliverables
• Support evaluations of ad-hoc NI policy funding requests and emergency or crisis allocations
• Support senior officials and Ministers on sensitive political and stakeholder engagement on economic growth and fiscal sustainability

• Building strong partnerships and relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Sound judgement and analytical skills, making evidence-based recommendations
• Excellent communication and influencing, presenting complex information clearly to senior decision makers
• Dealing with uncertainty, self-organising, prioritising and close attention to detail

• Existing civil servant or accredited NDPB employee appointed on merit through fair and open competition
• National Security Vetting at CTC level
• Continuous UK residence for the past five years
• Eligible under Civil Service nationality rules

• Civil Service Success Profile behaviours assessed at sift and interview, with Delivering at Pace as the lead behaviour
• Communicating and Influencing, Working Together and Seeing the Big Picture behaviours
• CV and 500-word statement of suitability with evidence of relevant experience

• Background in economics, finance, social research or public expenditure analysis
• Legislative policy or Bill management experience
• Knowledge of the UK and Irish geopolitical landscape

• Annual leave of 25 days rising to 30 after five years, plus public holidays and a privilege day
• Scheme to buy or sell up to three days' leave a year
• Choice of Civil Service pension schemes
• Extensive training and development opportunities
• Family-friendly policies, plus paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave
• Flexible benefits, including voluntary benefits, vouchers and discounts
• Employee-run networks
• Free annual sight tests for screen users