Assistant Principal – Policy Analyst/Economist

The Role

The role of Policy Analyst / Economist in the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service is an important one, and the work will be varied and challenging. Under the general direction of the Head of Unit in the employing Government Department, and by reference to the Work Programme of the Unit, the Policy Analyst / Economist will be expected to take responsibility for specific work areas and manage a small team. Successful candidate(s) will be capable of drawing on their experience and expertise in analysis to inform evidence-based policy and decision making. The ideal candidates will be self-starters, capable of continuous learning, with a strong interest in the wider economic, political and social environment.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities of the Role

There are IGEES Policy Analyst/Economist roles in every Government Department. The work varies depending on the requirements of the role and the Department, but typically covers one or more of the following:

• Contributing to national policy development across a wide range of areas;

• Managing a work programme of policy analysis and evaluation of public policy initiatives;

• Managing and developing graduate policy analyst/economist staff;

• Briefing and advising senior officials and Ministers;

• Using data and economic tools and techniques to conduct policy analysis and evaluation;

• Contributing to appraisals and evaluations of significant areas of expenditure in line with the Public Spending Code & Infrastructure Guidelines;

• Providing economic advice and guidance to support Government;

• Contributing to relevant internal and external conferences and events.

Please note:

The above is a general guide to the key duties and responsibilities of the role and is not an exhaustive description. Other duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role may also be assigned from time to time.

Vacancies and Office Location

Currently a number of immediate vacancies exist for the position of Assistant Principal – Policy Analyst/Economist in IGEES. Candidates who are successful will be placed on a panel, in an order of merit. Immediate and future vacancies which may arise for this role will be filled from this panel while it is in operation.

IGEES analysts work in all government departments and a number of public sector organisations including the Revenue Commissioners, the Agri-Food Regulator, the Electoral Commission, the Irish Human Rights and Equalities Commission, the Parliamentary Budget Office and the Data Protection Commission. Candidates will initially be assigned to the IGEES Central Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER). DPER will determine which Departments candidates are assigned to.

Please note: It is likely that most vacancies that arise over the lifetime of the panel will be in Dublin. It is not envisaged that appointments will be made from this competition after May 2028.

Working Environment

Candidates should be aware that requirements in relation to hybrid working will depend on the assigned Department/Office and will be in line with the employing organisation’s Blended Working Policy.

Training and Development

IGEES is strongly committed to continuous learning and development and offers an exciting, interesting and demanding career opportunity. It is part of a reforming Irish Civil Service, one that is founded in principles of public service, independence, integrity and impartiality.

Key to the development of IGEES is the continuous development of its staff so that relevant economic, evaluation and analytical skills are maintained and enhanced. This will involve attendance at advanced training modules, short specialist courses, etc. It may also involve the participation in conferences/seminars, pursuit of further academic qualifications, completion of assignments and short periods of secondment to relevant international bodies/institutes.

Please note: Mobility

Staff mobility is an important element of capacity building and staff development within IGEES. As part of the normal course of career and professional development, staff are expected to move on a regular basis to other IGEES units across Government Departments.

Salary Range: €83,113 - €103,576

Essential

Candidates must have on or before 24th of September 2026:

a) A qualification at Level 8 (minimum 2.1 honours degree) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) (or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as Economics, Social Science, Policy Analysis or Statistics

or

b) A post graduate qualification at Level 9 on the NFQ or NARIC Ireland Foreign Qualifications equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Economics, Social Science, Policy Analysis or Statistics

AND

At least 2 years’ relevant experience of working as a policy analyst and/or economist.

Candidates must also demonstrate:

Strong quantitative and analytical skills with a track record in delivering high-quality outputs;

A proven ability to identify and access appropriate data sources and to analyse, evaluate and disseminate relevant material;

A track record in conducting policy analysis and/or evaluation work, and in developing clear insights, practical strategies and solutions based on such analysis;

The ability to balance economic issues with the wider social and political environment in the national interest;

The ability to think clearly, analytically and rationally about policy issues;

Good people and/or project management skills;

The ability to manage, prioritise and progress multiple projects and work activities in a fast-paced environment, including the ability to accurately estimate time parameters, anticipate obstacles and make contingencies for overcoming them;

Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to present complex constructs in an accessible, logical and comprehensive manner to both an expert and non-expert audience;

Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven capacity to effectively engage, collaborate and foster positive working relationships with both colleagues and external stakeholders;

Motivation, flexibility and willingness to adapt, positive contribution to the implementation of change and capability of using own initiative as and when appropriate;

Resilience, positivity and perseverance in the face of ongoing challenges;

Strong IT skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications;

An ongoing commitment to Continuous Professional Development.

In addition to the above, candidates must also be able to demonstrate the Key Competencies (outlined on pg. 8) identified for effective performance in this role.

Desirable

• Experience of using a wide range of relevant information sources, research tools, and data analysis software such as Stata, R, Python, SAS, SPSS.

Please note:

Qualifications/eligibility may not be confirmed until the final stage of the process, therefore, those candidates who do not possess the essential requirements, on or by the dates as specified, and proceed with their application are putting themselves to unnecessary effort/expense and will not be offered a position from this competition.

The onus is on the candidate to ensure they fulfil the eligibility requirements as set out. publicjobs reserves the right to deem an applicant ineligible at any stage if it is apparent that the candidate does not hold the required eligibility/qualifications e.g. from the submitted application form. Candidates who are unable to demonstrate that they hold/will hold the required qualification(s) by the deadline specified may be withdrawn from the competition at any stage. An invitation to tests, interview or any element of the selection process is not acceptance of eligibility.

Candidates who are placed on a panel and come under consideration for a position will be required to provide documentary evidence of their eligibility, including qualifications. Please be aware a transcript of results may be required; therefore, the onus is on candidates to have this information available if requested by publicjobs.

Eligibility to Compete and Certain Restrictions on Eligibility

Citizenship Requirement

Eligible Candidates must be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area. The EEA consists of the Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway; or

(b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK); or

(c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the free movement of persons; or

(d) A non-EEA citizen who has a stamp 41 permission or stamp 5 permission.

To qualify candidates must meet one of the citizenship criteria above by the date of any job offer.

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which had been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payments to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the Public Service by any Public Service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER)

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retirees, under that Scheme, are not eligible to apply for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010)

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1 November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Schemes (VRS). It is a condition of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme will not be eligible for re-employment in the public health sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under the VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of the VER scheme are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of the VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Department of Environment, Community & Local Government (Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013)

The Department of Environment, Community & Local Government Circular Letter LG(P) 06/2013 introduced a Voluntary Redundancy Scheme for Local Authorities. In accordance with the terms of the Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants dated 28 June 2012 as detailed above, it is a specific condition of that VER Scheme that persons will not be eligible for reemployment in any Public Service body [as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 – 2011 and the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012] for a period of 2 years from their date of departure under this Scheme. These conditions also apply in the case of engagement/employment on a contract for service basis (either as a contractor or as an employee of a contractor).

Declaration

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a Public Service scheme of incentivised early retirement. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.