Economist; Evaluation

Strategy and Communications

Strategy and Communications sits at the centre of the organisation, bringing together several teams with organisation‑wide remits and mutual collaboration opportunities. The work of the directorate’s teams includes delivery of major events, designing and leading public affairs or marketing campaigns, providing data, evidence and analysis, leading cross‑organisational programmes, to making sure we plan for and can respond to emerging events or emergencies in our city.

GLA Economics provides expert advice and analysis on London’s economy. We aim to be an authoritative and highly regarded source of information and data for anyone with an interest in London’s economy. The team:

• supports the appraisal and evaluation of projects and programmes to ensure effective decision making.
• produces monitoring and forecasting of key economic variables.
• undertakes policy analysis and provides challenge to inform investment decisions, service delivery and policy strategies.

We work closely with colleagues across the GLA’s City Intelligence Unit (CIU). This includes working with other analysts, social and opinion researchers, demographers and data scientists, as well as with policy colleagues in other parts of the GLA.

The is a varied role within the Appraisal and Evaluation function of GLA Economics. This sub‑team advises policy teams within the GLA Group on the appraisal, monitoring and evaluation of projects and programmes. For example, helping to develop business cases, carrying out or advising on options appraisal and cost‑benefit analysis, identifying Key Performance Indicators for monitoring purposes, supporting the design of robust economic impact evaluation, or critiquing the outputs of external evaluators.

While this role encompasses elements of both appraisal and evaluation, we are particularly keen to hear from candidates with an interest in, and demonstrable experience of, evaluation methods. This is an opportunity to ensure that GLA policies and programmes are developed and assessed on the basis of sound, objective evidence and analysis.

Working across a range of policy areas, you’ll be applying your expertise in economic evaluation and appraisal to a variety of different projects from day‑to‑day. This could include:

• Advising on the methodology for a project or policy evaluation, helping to draft a specification, reviewing the outputs of external evaluators, or carrying out an evaluation yourself.
• Supporting teams and stakeholders to identify how best to monitor the performance of their project or programme for reporting purposes. Identifying indicators and data sources for reporting or devising Outcomes Frameworks.
• Designing and delivering training or workshops on evaluation methodologies, Logic Models/Theories of Change, and leading the expansion of our internal Evaluation & Appraisal network, in order to build organisational capacity.
• Helping to prepare a business case for internal or external funding, such as aspects of the strategic or economic case, undertaking options appraisal, cost‑benefit analysis or other forms of value for money assessment.
• Undertaking analysis about a particular socio‑economic trend or issue affecting London’s economy, for publications such as the State of London.

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• A degree or professional qualification in economics or a related subject, preferably to post‑graduate level, or an ability to demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge through experience in economics or a related field.
• Knowledge and experience, or clear demonstrated capacity to acquire expertise in, the fields of economic evaluation and appraisal. Experience in the application of Government guidance including the Magenta and Green Books is highly desirable. Experience and/or a strong understanding of experimental and quasi‑experimental impact evaluation methods is highly desirable.
• A demonstrated capacity to develop and deliver high‑quality analytical projects to inform and influence policy development through evidence.
• Broad…