Apple Recruitment are recruiting for a Research Officer within Economics on behalf of the NI Assembly.

Main duties include:

Within the scope of their individual portfolios, ROs primarily produce non-partisan, objective and evidence-based research, for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Northern Ireland Assembly Committees, as well as others, such as Assembly colleagues working inside and outside of RaISe.

This is a RO post in the policy area of economics, including public finance.

Job Description:

Main duties and responsibilities of the job are:

• 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 collegially, 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.

If you wish to apply or would like more information, please email your CV in Microsoft word format to Caroline by clicking on the link below by noon on Friday 13^th September.  You must also include a bullet pointed synopsis at the top of your CV demonstrating how exactly you meet the Essential Criteria below:

Applicants must, by the closing date:

1. 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.

AND

2. Have at least two years of work experience post degree (or equivalent or post-graduate qualification) in:

a.) Conducting objective, evidence-based research on economic issues, including public finance. This includes the collation, validation and visualisation of a wide range of date – qualitative and quantitative; and

b.) 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.

Further Details:

• Hourly Rate based on £50,684 per annum
• Up to 6 months with possibility of extension
• Closing Date for CV’s: Friday 13^th September 2024 @ midday

If you wish to apply or would like more information, please email your CV in Microsoft word format to Caroline by clicking on the link below by midday on Friday 13^th September 2024.

Applicants must ensure their CV is accurate and up to date. The CV should include your full employment history inclusive of dates, all academic achievements and full personal contact details.

Please note only applicants that match this criteria can be considered for the role.

Apple Recruitment Services is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy. Apple Recruitment Services is an Equal Opportunities Employer.