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Location: Manchester, Birmingham, Guildford, Leeds, or Bedford

On behalf of our client, a leading organisation managing England’s motorways, is looking for a Principal Economist.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Principal Economist to lead the development of an organisation-wide analytical and modelling platform, providing insight into the economic, environmental, and societal impacts of major programmes and investments. This role will act as a trusted business partner, ensuring that value for money is at the core of decision-making, while also strengthening economic capability across the organisation.

The Principal Economist will play a key role in guiding high-profile investment assessments, advising senior stakeholders, and managing a team of economists to deliver high-quality analysis and professional development.

With responsibility for supporting the Value for Money process within the Road Investment Strategy (RIS), the Principal Economist will also provide critical economic insight into decisions that may carry financial implications worth hundreds of millions of pounds.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of an analytical platform to assess wider economic, social, and environmental impacts.
• Provide expert advice and assurance on value for money, supporting projects and investment governance.
• Support the Value for Money assessment of RIS schemes, ensuring decision-makers are equipped with the right evidence and clear recommendations on its interpretation.
• Coordinate and oversee major economic assessments to ensure robust and consistent analysis.
• Manage budgets and highlight the financial implications of investment decisions, ensuring risks and opportunities are well understood.
• Manage and develop a team of senior and graduate economists, building capability and future expertise.
• Drive best practice, innovation, and economic research to deliver greater value for taxpayers, users, and society.

About You

• Degree with a significant economics component, or Master’s in Economics.
• Significant professional experience of working as an economist.
• Experience working in the public sector in economics, or in infrastructure in either the public or private sector.
• Demonstrated budget management responsibilities in a large-scale investment context.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex economic language for non-experts.

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance and Project Management
• Industries: Civil Engineering

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