NIA Logo - White

Research Officer - Economics

Can you provide impartial research and analysis on economic related issues?

Learn More

Research officers work directly with Assembly Members and Committees to provide non-partisan, objective and evidence-based research.

Research Officer - Economics

The duties and responsibilities of the job include:

  • Engage with individual MLAs, Assembly Committees and the senior managers within the Assembly Secretariat in order to understand their research requirements;
  • Retrieve and synthesise information from a wide range of sources, including online databases;
  • Provide timely, accurate, high quality and impartial research and analysis on economic related and other issues to individual MLA, Assembly Committees and the senior managers within the Assembly Secretariat;
  • Produce a range of research outputs including customised research papers, legislative analysis briefings, and blog posts which are well written, concise and accessible;
  • Present research briefings to Assembly Committees and respond to Committee members’ questions in public session.
Full Job Specification

What we offer you

  • Salary range: £44,601-£45,947
  • The standard working week is 37 hours, excluding meal breaks (42 hours gross).
  • An annual leave allowance of 25 days, increasing incrementally by one day per year up to a maximum of 30 days.
  • All permanent Secretariat staff are enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme from their first day of employment.
Find out more

Essential Criteria

Applicants must, by the closing date (12 noon 13th March 2020):

1. Be in possession of at least a second-class honours, higher division (2:1) degree (or equivalent), in which economics was a major component of the degree, meaning at least fifty per cent of the course covered micro, macro and quantitative economics;

AND
2. Following completion of an undergraduate degree (or equivalent), have at least two years of work experience in:

a) conducting objective, economics-related, evidence-based research; and

b) producing and delivering economics related research findings to decision makers.

Quick Q&A for this job...​

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is a corporate body established by section 40 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Commission employs a Secretariat to serve the Assembly.

How much is the salary?

The salary range is £44,601-£45,947. This is an Assembly Grade 5 position. 

Where is the job based?

The successful applicant will be based in Parliament Buildings, Belfast.

When is the closing date?

Completed application forms must be submitted by 12 noon 13th March 2020.

Who would I report to?

The successful candidate will be accountable to the Senior Research Officer.

What is the Research and Information Service (RaISe)?

The Research and Information Service (RaISe) is part of the Assembly’s Legal, Governance and Research Services Directorate. 

Research Teams provide the Northern Ireland Assembly with impartial, objective, timely and non-partisan information and research.

Are you up for the challenge?

Completed forms must be submitted by 12 noon 13th March 2020

What does a Research Team do?

Our researchers work within specialist portfolios located in four research teams:

  • Health and Social Care, Statistics and Mapping
  • Political Institutions, Equality, Justice, Families and Education
  • Communities, Infrastructure and Environment
  • Finance and Economics

Together, supported by the Library within RaISe, the Research Teams provide the following services:

  • In-depth, analytical briefings regarding policy, legislation and public finance
  • Bill papers addressing Executive and non-Executive legislative proposals
  • Research to assist Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) develop proposals for private member’s legislation
  • Research to help MLAs respond to matters of concern to their constituents
  • Statistical services addressing all aspects relating to the collection and use of data
  • Mapping services and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
  • Workshops and seminars, including the Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series’ (KESS) which is delivered in partnership with local universities

What's it like to be a research officer?

I enjoy working as a researcher as it gives me job satisfaction to see independent impartial research and presentations we provide impacting on decision-making. Our work is used by MLAs and Committees to directly inform their examination and recommendations around developing proposed legislation and policies. Both the breadth of our remit and external engagement ensures a varied and interesting role.
Dr Janice ThompsonResearch Officer
Working in RaISe, we often need to present our research findings to MLAs at short notice, whilst this can be challenging it is also very rewarding. I feel uniquely privileged interacting with Members and helping them make policy decisions founded on evidenced based research that I have produced.
Michael ScholesResearch Officer
I really enjoy working as a Researcher for the Assembly. The type of research we do is important; the breadth of our remits make it interesting and always changing. We also get to see first-hand the impact our work has as we help Members and Committees to examine legislation that affects our everyday lives.
Suzie CaveResearch Officer
Working as a Research Officer within Raise means having the opportunity to work closely with decision makers as they set the political agenda for Northern Ireland. Whether it is producing research papers for committees or briefings for members, my research makes an important contribution on a wide range of issues that affect people in their everyday lives. There is, quite simply, no other organisation where my work would have the impact that it does here at the Assembly.
Ray McCaffreyResearch Officer
I really enjoy working in the Research Service here at the Assembly. We have an opportunity to play a role in helping the legislative process through our research and we gain a unique perspective on the way a legislature functions. The Research Service has a strong team ethos while also supporting us to work independently in our subject areas--we also have opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
Des McKibbinResearch Officer

Application Pack: Research Officer - Economics

Closing date: 12 noon 13th March 2020.

Interviews are planned for week commencing 20th April 2020.

Further Information

If you require more information on the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Office on 02890 520327.

Visit our website for further information about the Assembly.

Good luck!

Apply Now