Economic Advisor G7 at British Government

About The Job

Main purpose of job:

• Economic Adviser to the British High Commission (Ghana).

Roles and responsibilities:

• Co-Lead the macroeconomic analysis and reporting for His Majesty Government (HMG) in Ghana. 
• The economic advisor will contribute to cross-HMG priorities in Ghana, including supporting other teams to understand the economic context of their work; and working closely with Department for Business and Trade (DBT), UK Export Finance (UKEF) and others on wider trade and investment priorities. 
• The economic advisor will work closely with teams in London and Washington on issues of Ghana’s macroeconomy, IMF programme, debt issues among others.
• Co-Lead on HMG’s engagement with Ghana on economic issues. 
• Drive policy and programme work related to economic development, ensuring high impact delivery. 
• This includes building and leveraging strong relationships with the Government of Ghana (Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana and others),  academics, Civil Society partners and with external actors (IMf, World Bank, other partners).
• Lead the Public Financial Management (PFM) portfolio for HMG in Ghana. 
• The economic advisor will lead efforts to redefining the British High Commission’s support on PFM, scoping linkages with other programmatic work such as tax, macro fiscal management, spending on health, social welfare and education, and ensuring strategic alignment.
• Actively supporting programming and policy on HMG’s domestic revenue mobilisation programme in Ghana. The economic advisor will work closely with a team of internal and external stakeholders to support transformative change in Ghana’s tax effort. External stakeholders include other development partners supporting Ghana’s revenue transformation, His Majesty Revenue and Customs,  Government of Ghana and Civil Society partners.
• Contributing effectively to corporate objectives of the High Commission, working with others to role model the FCDO values and to help make it a great place to work

Resources Managed (staff and expenditure):

• The post holder may co-lead one or more programmes,  which has programme management responsibilities including financial management, risk and commercial management responsibility.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• This role is flagged as an economic expert role for members who have specialised in economics (or can demonstrate fulfilling UK GES minimum criteria). 
• A minimum of three years experience working in expert economic roles is required.
• Excellent economic skills and a track record of delivering high-quality, impactful and timely economic analysis that shapes and influences policy.
• A strong grasp of macroeconomics, particularly around debt and fiscal policy; and a clear understanding of the international economic system and how it impacts developing countries.
• Strong analytical skills, feeling confident in using data, drawing policy-relevant conclusions, and in supporting others to do so. 
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain economic concepts to non-specialist audiences and identify the implications for policy.
• Experience of working with developing countries  on economic management (experience working on Ghana’s economy highly desirable)  
• The ability to build and maintain strong and beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to engage effectively across cultures, maintaining respect and integrity.
• The ability to bring together policy and programme levers to deliver a high impact in a challenging area.
• The GES Minimum Criteria is a 2:1 undergraduate degree with at least 50% of economics in the final two years, or a post graduate diploma, or a Master’s degree in economics. 
• Any successful candidate from a non-GES background should take the FCDO Grade 7 economics readiness board within 12 months.

Desirable Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

• An understanding of and exposure to the challenges in promoting public financial management and taxation in a developing country context with be desirable

Required Behaviours: 

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Other benefits and conditions of employment  
Learning and development opportunities:

• Post holder will  join the FCDO Economics Community and have access to the extensive Learning and Development opportunities within the community including formal training and learning from peers. 
• The post holder will be encouraged to take the readiness board which formally accredits ‘expert’ status within the FCDO community and specific support is available for this purpose.