Are you an economist at heart, with a background in social research and its application to policy development, project assessment and evaluation? 

Would you like to have a positive impact in a growing start-up with a culture based upon trust and autonomy and which has big plans for the future of the South of Scotland?

Are you excited by the prospect of working for an organisation that is committed to helping you manage your busy lifestyle by offering flexible working opportunities that work for both you and us?

If you’ve answered yes to the above questions, read on…

About Us

South of Scotland Enterprise (also known as SOSE) is the newly established Economic and Community Development Agency for the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. 

We were established by the Scottish Government in recognition of the need for a fresh approach to drive inclusive growth across the area. We take a wider view of the economy and how it impacts all we do.  Jobs, businesses, communities and the environment are all equally important to us - we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to fulfil their ambitions, no matter who or where they are.

What You’ll Do Day-to-Day

In this highly autonomous role, you will lead our economic and research activity and will be instrumental in strengthening our evidence base, implementing our performance measurement framework, supporting colleagues with project appraisal and commissioning, and delivering our research activity, individually and in collaboration with other organisations.  You’ll work with colleagues across SOSE, to support economic evaluations, appraisals and the assessment of projects and funding decisions as well as evaluating the impact of our work. 

Additionally, you will research, analyse and report on general economic and other trends that are affecting the South of Scotland and will develop the region’s economic baseline data, identifying gaps in the evidence base and taking forward work to fill them. 

The Skills and Personal Attributes You’ll Need to Have

You’ll need to be able to demonstrate significant experience in economics and social research and its application to policy development, project assessment and evaluation.  You’ll have worked with both qualitative and quantitative data as well as having experience of using evaluation and assessment techniques. 

What We’ll Offer You

We offer a competitive and varied reward package, designed to cover your wellbeing, your lifestyle, your working life and your future, including 43 days holiday annually and a generous pension contribution.  Our salary ranges are designed to be competitive and new entrants will normally start on the minimum of the pay range, except in exceptional circumstances.  We want to make sure that what we offer helps you to fit your work around your life, not the other way around.

At South of Scotland Enterprise, we celebrate and support differences. We are an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to offering equal employment opportunities regardless of race, colour, ancestral heritage, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity and expression, or veteran status.  If you need any adjustments to support your application, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or if you’re eligible under The Disability Confident Scheme please contact us and we’ll do all we can to support you.

Due to COVID-19 all our staff are currently working from home until further notice and guidance from Scottish Government, although we do expect to move to a hybrid way of working once restrictions allow.  As such, one of our main hub locations (Dumfries or Selkirk) should be within reasonable commuting distance of your home address.  To enable you to do your job to the best of your ability, IT equipment will be delivered to your home to make the onboarding process as seamless as possible.

This role is full time and permanent, although we will consider alternative working patterns.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 14th October 2021 at 11.59pm and interviews will be held as soon as practical thereafter.  

If you are an Inclusive, Responsible and Bold individual who is always Striving for success and believe you have something to offer the South of Scotland as a Senior Economist then we would love to hear from you. 

For more information on this role and to apply visit www.sosecareers.com