Economic Analyst

Economic Analyst – Fixed term contract up to 12 months

This secondment offers a unique chance to contribute to high-impact, nationally significant work at the forefront of data and privacy regulation. As an Economic Analyst at the ICO, you’ll apply your skills to real-world challenge, shaping policy, evaluating regulatory interventions, and exploring the intersection of data protection with innovation, competition, and economic growth. You’ll work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment, gain exposure to cutting-edge topics like AI and biometrics, and benefit from structured development within the Government Economic Service.

If you're looking to broaden your experience, deepen your analytical expertise, and make a meaningful contribution to public policy, this is an exceptional opportunity.

Full time/Part time.

Salary: £44,297 per annum

Location:

Flexible hybrid working across the UK

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

• Pay progression scheme.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
• Pension
• Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website .

The ICO is the UK’s independent regulator for information rights, promoting data privacy for individuals and openness in public bodies. We regulate under a wide range of legislation, including responsibilities for data protection and freedom of information.

With economists located across the UK (Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Wilmslow), we offer an inclusive environment and provide flexible working conditions and a range of training and development opportunities. This includes:

• a structured economics profession including targeted learning and development opportunities, and visibility of career development pathways;
• membership of the Government Economic Service (GES);
• structured pay progression framework that provides tangible rewards for sustained progress and contribution;
• networking opportunities and a mechanism for social learning, sharing insight and good practice; and
• opportunities to do work to enhance diversity and inclusion within economics.

The ICO’s work is interesting and immensely rewarding – it is of national importance and increasingly in the public eye, covering areas such as AI, online tracking, and all the facets of the digital economy. We hold a unique position as a regulator across the whole of the private, public and third sectors.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful. We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to pursue a fulfilling and engaging career, able to acquire new skills and enjoy a supportive working environment.

Further details about being an economist at the ICO can be found on our website .

Do you want to be part of the team that produces economic analysis and research to support decision making, via options appraisal, impact assessment, ex-post evaluation, and other analytics (eg geospatial mapping)?

We have an opportunity for an Economic Analyst to join us on secondment. This would be related to understanding, measuring and driving regulatory intervention and policy impact, including the interaction of data protection with economic growth, competition, and innovation. The team’s work includes:

• supporting policy development by aiding understanding of the impact of our policies, programmes and projects using approved models and methods following principles from the Green and Magenta Books aligned with the ICO’s ;
• supporting the provision of advice to…