Research Officer- Economics

MCS Group is excited to be working in partnership with the Northern Ireland Assembly, in their search for a Research Officer specialising in Economics.

The role:

• Scope research requirements with individual MLAs, Assembly Committees and Officials, as well as, on occasion, others.
• Retrieve and synthesise information and data from a wide range of sources, including online databases.
• Deliver high quality and impartial research and analysis on economics, including public finance, in a timely and accurate manner.
• Produce a range of well-written, concise and accessible research outputs, which are evidence-based and address policy, legislation and/or public finance – for example: research papers; briefing papers; blog posts; training materials; digital dashboards; and, infographics.
• Present - clearly and effectively - research briefings and training materials, to individual MLAs and their staff, as well as Assembly Committee Members and Officials: this includes responding to their questions; and for Assembly Committees, this largely occurs in public session.
• Contribute to the peer review of RaISe colleagues’ research outputs.
• Identify potential witnesses and specialist advisors - academic and non-academic – for Assembly Committees’ consideration and use.
• Maintain a specialist knowledge of this post’s research portfolio through ongoing learning and development – for example: tracking relevant developments across government, at international, central and devolved levels; attending seminars and conferences (in-person and online); keeping abreast of relevant academic and non-academic literature; reading newsletters and updates, maintaining networks, etc.
• Provide support, including “buddying” when requested, to those working in undergraduate and postgraduate placements and internships, and those recently joining RaISe as new (permanent and temporary) staff,
• Facilitate public events – for example: Assembly Committee Inquiries; RaISe’s Academic Engagement-related events, such as individual seminars in the Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS).
• Proactively forge and develop appropriate links with departmental officials, external research bodies/communities, academics, RaISe counterparts in other such library and research services and other.
• Work collaboratively and collegiality, as an effective Team member.
• Contribute to the development of Raise, including identifying potential new outputs and improving service delivery more generally.
• Carry out such other duties within RaISe’s business area, which are reasonably required of this post.
• Comply with Assembly policies, procedures and practices applicable to Assembly Officials, including, but not limited to, those relating to Equal Opportunities and Dignity at Work, as well as those requiring completion of mandatory training courses.
• Carry out any other duties that the Assembly Commission reasonably requires of this post.

The Person:

By the closing date, applicants must:

• Be in possession of at least a second-class honours degree (or equivalent or post-graduate qualification), which contained at least 50% of the course content relating to policy development or law-making in the area of economics, including public finance.

ALSO

• Have at least two years of work experience post degree (OR equivalent OR post-graduate qualification) in:
  • Conducting objective, evidence-based research on economic issues, including public This includes the collation, validation and visualisation of a wide range of date – qualitative and quantitative; and
  • Producing and delivering evidence-based research findings on economic issues, including those concerning public finance, to help inform discussion and decision making relating to policy development or law-making in that area.

The Rewards:

The successful applicant, you will receive the following:

• £50,684 per annum
• Fantastic annual leave allowance
• A hybrid working arrangement
• The opportunity to work for a fantastic team, in an organisation at the forefront of public sector.

To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity please send an up-to-date CV via the link provided or contact Meghan Hamilton, specialist recruitment consultant at MCS Group on

Even if this position is not right for you, we may have others that are. Please visit MCS Group to view a wide selection of our current jobs www.mcsgroup.jobs