Principal Analyst - Business & Economy (Permanent)

Job Title: Principal Analyst (Business & Economy)

Location: Home Based with occasional travel into the Walsall Civic Centre for team meetings and across the Region for external meetings on occasion

Salary: £46,464 - £51,515 per annum - G11

Job Type: Permanent, Full time

Closing Date: Monday 6th May 2024

Interviews will be held online on Friday 10th May 2024

Senior Strategic Economic Intelligence Expert required to help shape the future of the Black Country and Regional Economies

• The Economic Intelligence Unit (The EIU) is a standalone intelligence team hosted by Walsall Council
• We provide partners across the Midlands region with a first-class evidence base to inform better decision making. Some examples of our work includes: annual economic reviews, local labour market profiles, business sector and cluster analysis, intelligence briefings and economic impact assessments.
• Our main clients include the four Black Country local authorities, the West Midlands Combined Authority and the Midlands Engine.
• The team consists of a unique, experienced, well-developed team of highly qualified and experienced economists and thematic and spatial analysts that have been instrumental in the region's evidence base since 2002.

An experienced and dynamic person is required to join this team and be instrumental in the team achieving its work programme.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, collect, manipulate, analyse and strategically advise on regional research, information and intelligence, principally related to business and economy themes
• Analyse and manipulate data in Excel and using economic models and scenario analysis to inform evidence-based policy decision making for the region's business base including deep dives into productivity, sectors, trade and investment and the macro-economy
• Strategically apply intelligence to inform the development of strategic programmes to implement local and regional priorities within the business / economy theme
• Deliver business and economy intelligence-based outputs in a variety of formats including written reports, dashboards and presentations to local partners
• Conduct additional research to fill data gaps - either by devising and carrying out a programme of research activity or leading on commissioning this from others
• Support partners in the sharing and understanding of key local intelligence, especially related to the economy including the business environment, sectors, productivity and investment
• Formulate and deliver the approach to measuring the economic and social impact of activity across the region and lead on economic evaluation and benefits realisation of significant projects and programmes
• Carry out consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including partners, businesses and elected members
• Generate income via ad hoc projects with partners leading on the business and economy projects
• Communicate and provide effective, timely and fit for purpose responses to data and information requests received from funders / partners from different geographical levels
• Develop, grow and maintain relationships with local / regional businesses, business groups and other partners; gathering information to inform the evidence collection and influencing policy activity process thought an evidence-based approach
• Represent The Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), when required, at meetings with partners across the region liaising with other researchers and ensuring relevant information is communicated to the Director of The Economic Intelligence including deputising for the Director at Board meetings etc.

About you:

• The post holder must be able to work on their own initiative, to adapt to a variety of tasks, to work to deadlines and to deliver a consistently high standard of work. Educated to degree level you must be able to undertake data analysis, including the interpretation of complex information from a range of sources and the synthesize of this into succinct presentable outputs. You should be experienced with data and intelligence analysis related to the economy and in particular the business base, productivity, sectors, trade and investment and have to ability to inform evidence-based policy decision making in this thematic area/

The post-holder will be based at home, with occasional travel into the Walsall Civic Centre for team meetings, and potential for travel across the Region for external meetings as required. Optional working space can also be provided in Birmingham city centre.

About Us:

Here at Walsall, we want to attract the best talent. That's why - as well as a satisfying and rewarding job - we offer a range of attractive benefits. You can expect generous holiday entitlements, a first-class pension scheme and plenty of opportunities for training and personal development.

Additional Information:

Please note we will not be accepting applications from those who have applied for this role in our previous advert. 

Please click the APPLY button to be redirected to the council's website to complete your application.

Candidates with the experience or relevant job titles of; Economist, Researcher, Economy, Economic Analysis, Insight Manager, Strategic Intelligence may also be considered for this role.