The UK Commission is seeking experienced policy analysts to join its research and policy directorate. Research and policy analysis will play a fundamental role in the work of the UK Commission, being central to its advisory function and developing its reputation for: leading the thinking and agenda setting; providing expert policy advice about what works, offering potential solutions; and being a prime source of knowledge on the overarching agenda around skills and employment.

Research and policy analysis will need to play a key role helping the UK Commission to influence strategies at the highest levels of Government, and discharge its core responsibilities around:

• Assessing progress towards making the UK a world-class leader in employment and skills by 2020, in the context of the aims and priorities of the four UK nations.
• Advising ministers in the four nations on the strategies and policies needed to increase employment, skills and productivity.
• Monitoring the contribution of each part of the employment and skills system in creating sustained employment and career progression, challenging performance and recommending improvements in policy, delivery and further innovation, directly or as agreed with individual nations.

The research and policy directorate will undertake applied Labour Market Analysis, Research Development, and Policy Analysis and Evaluation, contributing to all parts of the policy development cycle - Rationale/problem identification; Objective setting, policy formation and ‘instrument’ development; option Appraisal and policy choice; policy implementation and Monitoring; policy Evaluation and review; and finally policy Feedback.

The UK Commission seeks to provide a sound basis for policy analysis and advice through a range of methods not least:  (1) briefing/updates; (2) large scale reviews including of evaluation evidence, (‘what works’), understanding policies undertaken overseas and examining pilots; (3) speculative enquiries, reviewing/briefing on existing policies ; and (4) a range of dedicated think pieces. These activities are also likely to be combined with (a) the services of a policy advisory group, drawn from a range of think tanks (b) an annual policy convention (bringing government, agencies and think tanks together), (c) strong utilisation of UKCES research evidence and policy material gathered and gathered by the UKCES, and (d) the support of experts commissioned to undertake policy studies and/or specific analysis. The team will also support wider projects of the UK Commission – for example: it will provide an important input into the 2010 review of skills and employment led by the Strategy and Performance Directorate.

The work of the Directorate and the job descriptions for the senior policy analysts are described in the following sections. We are seeking exceptional people who are expert in their field, who are committed to excellence and who enjoy working in a fast-paced, innovative organisation.  Most important, we want people who will make an important contribution to ensuring the UK becomes a world leader in productivity, employment and skills by 2020.