Regional development policy officer

Description

Regional development policy officers research, analyse and develop regional development policies. They implement policies that aim at reducing regional disparities by fostering economic activities in a region and structural changes such as supporting multi-level governance, rural development and improvement of infrastructure. They work closely with partners, external organisations or other stakeholders and provide them with regular updates.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to regional development policy officer:

regional development policy researcher
regional policy officer
legal policy officer for regional development
policy officer in regional development department
regional development policy coordinator
regional development policy developer
regional development policy analyst
policy officer for regional development

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as regional development policy officer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Regional development policy officer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Regional development policy officer career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to regional development policy officer.

economic policy officer
housing policy officer
recreation policy officer
labour market policy officer
competition policy officer

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of regional development policy officer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of regional development policy officer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of regional development policy officer.

Government policy implementation: The procedures related to the application of government policies at all levels of public administration.
Government policy: The political activities, plans, and intentions of a government for a legislative session for concrete causes.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of regional development policy officer.

Create solutions to problems: Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings about practice.
Maintain relations with local representatives: Maintain good relations with representatives of the local scientific, economic and civil society.
Liaise with local authorities: Maintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.
Advise on economic development: Advise organisations and institutions on the factors and steps they could take which would promote and ensure economic stability and growth.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Maintain relationships with government agencies: Establish and maintain cordial working relationships with peers in different governmental agencies.
Advise on legislative acts: Advise officials in a legislature on the propositioning of new bills and the consideration of items of legislation.
Manage government policy implementation: Manage the operations of the implementation of new government policies or changes in existing policies on a national or regional level as well as the staff involved in the implementation procedure.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of regional development policy officer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Project management principles: Different elements and phases of project management.
Social justice: The development and principles of human rights and social justice and the way they should be applied on a case by case basis.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of regional development policy officer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Carry out strategic research: Research long term possibilities for improvements and plan steps to achieve them.
Advise legislators: Give advice on various government and legislative duties, such as policy creation and the inner workings of a governmental department, to government officials in legislative positions, such as members of parliament, government ministers, senators, and other legislators.
Inspect government policy compliance: Inspect public and private organisations to ensure proper implementation and compliance with government policies which apply to the organisation.
Analyse economic trends: Analyse developments in national or international trade, business relations, banking, and developments in public finance and how these factors interact with one another in a given economic context.
Carry out internet research: Execute efficient search on the internet in order to gather relevant information and share it with others.
Develop economic policies: Develop strategies for economic stability and growth in an organisation, nation, or internationally, and for the improvement of trade practices and financial procedures.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Liaise with politicians: Liaise with officials fulfilling important political and legislative roles in governments in order to ensure productive communication and build relations.
Forecast economic trends: Gather and analyse economic data in order to predict economic trends and events.
Analyse community needs: Identify and respond to specific social problems in a community, delineating the extent of the problem and outline the level of resources required to address it and identifying the existing community assets and resources that are available to address the problem.

ISCO group and title

2422 – Policy administration professionals

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Regional development policy officer – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022