Header

Economist

KNOWLEDGE, STRATEGY & PLANNING DIRECTORATE
Status: Permanent, pensionable full-time appointment of 37 hours a week.
Location: Flexible
Job purpose
To provide expert advice and knowledge to embed economic thinking and approaches across all NRW Directorates.
Job responsibilities
The Economist will be responsible for supporting environmental outcomes and sustainable development, with emphasis on the business priorities of NRW.  The post-holder will develop economic evidence and methodologies which improve understanding of economic activity informing environmental planning and prioritisation.  They will build external partnerships and work collaboratively to promote economic evidence and an ecosystem services approach in order to resolve environmental problems.
Job Specific Responsibilities
Building strong stakeholder relationships:
  • Act as the lead across the business to embed economic thinking and approaches such as appraisal, ecosystem services and valuing the environment:
  • Demonstrate the ability to disseminate complex technical information and data to a range of audiences ranging from technically proficient to non-technical. 
  • Work across the business to embed economic thinking and approaches such as; cost benefit analysis, appraisal of ecosystem services and valuing the environment:
  • Provide mentoring and coaching role/support to managers and team leaders
  • Support teams with limited familiarity of economic principles and their application in order to help deliver their outcomes
  • Provide economic support to projects assessing the benefits of the “area based approach”
  • Influence key stakeholders, work collaboratively and build partnerships to develop economic approaches and evidence (e.g. work with EA, Welsh Government, Defra, Local Authorities, water companies, consultancies and the academic community).
  • Manage the NRW term contract for the supply of economic consultant services.
Delivering results:
  • Lead, develop and facilitate innovative economic methodologies and identification of evidence in support of delivering NRW outcomes.
  • Undertake cost-benefit analysis and impact assessments to inform environmental planning, e.g. Water Framework Directive, water company planning (PR14 and water resource management plans).
  • Develop evidence and improve understanding of economic activity and growth in order to support environmental outcomes and sustainable development, e.g. economics of agricultural and waste sectors and regulation; water company / OFWAT business model.
  • Identify, gather and interpret relevant up to date economic information and thinking from internal and external sources to address evidence gaps relating to business priorities.
  • Maintain an up to date knowledge of international developments in market mechanism approaches to environmental development issues.
  • Build economic skills and capacity to inform discussion and decisions.
Job Specific Requirements
An economics degree is essential and experience of environmental economics is desirable as is relevant previous experience. You'll need to be an excellent communicator, be able to demonstrate effective interpersonal skills and be a strong team worker.

You’ll possess proven ability and/or knowledge in the following areas:
  • Working with government departments/regulators preferably on environmental issues or criteria in a regulatory setting
  • AND/OR translating Government policy/legislation or organisational strategy into practical approaches, ideally relating to the Water Framework Directive, Water Company Periodic Reviews and developing the value of Ecosystems Services.
  • Demonstrable ability in Green Book compliant Cost Benefit and Net Present Value calculation.
  • Working independently, demonstrating initiative, with good organisational skills.
  • Demonstrate an interest in new methods to value the environment; the benefits afforded by putting a value on environmental damage
  • Being innovative and demonstrating drive to achieve targets
  • Building effective relationships
  • Interpreting and reporting on environmental data, and turning data into evidence
Due consideration has been given to the Welsh language requirements for the post and the existing skills within the team. Taking this into consideration the Welsh language skills required for the post are at Level 1 (basic ability to greet people in Welsh - 111/110615).
Personal Responsibilities
  • Agrees a personal delivery plan and report to their line manager on progress no less than twice a year
  • Exercises good judgement and be willing to held to account for decisions, actions and choices made personally and by staff for whom you are responsible
  • Acts as a role model of organisational values
    • Shows exemplary behaviours of honesty, integrity and ethics
    • Challenges others when they fail to act as role models
    • Combines confidence and resilience with humility and a willingness to learn
    • Self-reliant and be able to challenge existing ways of working
Applications and Closing Date
For more details on how to apply please visit our website.
For further details please contact Simon Neale (Future Regulation Manager) on 03000 65 4383, or email simon.neale@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk  
Closing Date: Friday 31st July 2015
Interviews to be held: 1st or 3rd September 2015
Applicants should be aware this role does NOT attract a public expense (relocation move) and therefore any cost of moving will not be met by NRW.
Please forward your expression of interest demonstrating your suitability for this role to and your equalities monitoring form to:recruitment@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk