Head of Economic Projects

Confederation of British Industry
London - United Kingdom
S: Up to £68,000

Please apply with a covering letter and a C.V. via the CBI Portal.

Job description

Role summary

The Head of Economic Projects role within the CBI's Economics directorate is a high profile, influential and exciting opportunity at the heart of the CBI, the UK's leading business organisation.

The CBI speaks on behalf of the business community with over 190,000 businesses in its network.

The economics directorate plays a vital function in helping our members to understand the latest intel on the macroeconomy, how to navigate the policy environment, as well as ensuring CBI policy positions are well evidenced.

As part of this function, the Economics directorate has started offering bespoke economic services through our new "CBI Economics" business that enables businesses to build their economic evidence base on specific areas of interest.
You will play a leading role in driving and delivering this new commercial offering through thought leading economic analysis and high-quality project management.
You will also help shape the direction of CBI policy positions, working closely with the CBI's policy teams to provide economic support through both business surveys and economic analysis.
As such, this role will be project based, managing the delivery of both internal policy projects and external CBI Economics projects.

The role involves a high degree of interaction with CBI Economics clients to understand their requirements and managing the delivery of these.
The individual will be based in our London office (or remotely subject to public health guidance), reporting to the Chief Economist and will have line management responsibility for a senior economist as well as matrix management responsibilities for two economists within the Economic Analysis team.

Key responsibilities

Leading CBI Economics operations, growth, and delivery (70%)

Lead on the operational aspects of the CBI Economics business, taking the lead on the day-to-day operations on behalf of the Economics directorate working closely with the Head of New Product Development.

This will include monitoring the financial performance of the business and individual projects, planning delivery resources, and supporting marketing activity.

This will involve working closely with the Deputy Chief Economist on Survey capacity and the Head of Economic Analysis on microeconomic analysis capacity.

This will be supported by an administrative assistant.

Leading on pipeline generation, working closely with the Head of New Product Development.

This will involve attending prospective client meetings, drafting proposals, including designing the methodological approach, timeline, and cost and pitching.

Work closely with the Deputy Chief Economist and Head of Economic Analysis on the longer-term growth strategy for CBI Economics, including investigating new areas to pursue through thought leadership, as well as assessing the resource and economic tools required to drive this growth.

Lead on the delivery of bespoke economic projects under the CBI Economics business, including leading economic analysis, business surveys, and sponsored reports.

This will involve being the key point of contact for the delivery team, attending regular meetings with the client to track progress, identifying challenges and present findings.

Leading economic analysis for policy projects (30%)

Support the CBI's policy work by leading on the scoping and delivery of robust economic analysis to help formulate CBI policy positions, working with colleagues to provide key economic insight.
Types of economic analysis could involve evaluating the regional economic impact of COVID-19 or estimating the value of services trade to the UK economy.

This would involve scoping out areas that require significant analytical input with CBI policy teams and running delivery of analysis in a project management approach.

Lead on the management of economics resource across the Economics department where resources are drawn on by policy teams. This is supported by an administrative assistant.

Working with others;

Building a strong working relationship with key CBI stakeholders and clients, showing the CBI as a highly credible, trusted voice and an exceptional source of economic analysis.

Collaborate with policy, commercial and communications teams to support organisation-wide goals and secure the resources you need to deliver economics projects.

Knowledge & experience

What an individual must know or understand to be able to fulfil the role's requirements

Essential

Degree in Economics or related subject with minimum 5 years' experience as a professional economist

Ability to scope and manage economic projects and deliver through others, including setting the direction of work and managing resources across multiple projects

Keen interest in using economics to drive public policy
Strong understanding of the current economic climate
Awareness of politics and government

Experience working in a commercial context

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate and reach mutual agreement with others

Strong presentation skills including an ability to present complex economic concepts to a non-technical audience

Desirable

Masters in Economics or related subject

Understanding of the current economic policy landscape

Experience of developing and running surveys

Involvement in supporting a commercial strategy

Line management

Behaviours

The behaviours and characteristics required to be able to fulfil the role's requirements

Collaborative – Listening, seeking views and sharing information; constructively challenging when appropriate

Taking ownership – Ensuring delivery and holding others to account; can influence, irrespective of hierarchy

Agile – Proactive and responsive to provide a strong member service; responding positively to shifting priorities

Commercial – Awareness of the wider business environment

Innovative – Exploring, sharing and integrating best practice; generating new ideas and challenging a mind-set of "what we've always done”

Analytical – gathering information and using logic to analyse, problem solve, evaluate risk and make decisions.

Job summary