Economic Advisor: Transport Economic Research

Details
Reference number

435501

Salary

£57,515

National - £57,515 and London £62,034

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DFT - Decarbonisation, Technology & Strategy Group (DTS)

Type of role

Analytical

Economist

Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Birmingham, Leeds, London

About the job
Job summary

Do you want to use your economic expertise to shape how billions are invested in the UK's transport network?

Can you turn complex analysis into clear, evidence-based insights that influence national policy and spending decisions?

Would you thrive in a collaborative, high-profile team at the forefront of transport economics and appraisal?

If so, we'd love to hear from you

DfT is a high-profile department at the heart of UK government. We work with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest to make journeys better.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below

Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc.

Job description

The Transport Economics and Appraisal (TEA) team leads innovative research and analysis to inform transport policy and investment decisions. We ensure rigorous economic appraisal underpins key spending proposals and maintain strong links with academia and industry to advance transport modelling and evaluation methods.

In this role, you will work collaboratively with a G7 economist to develop and apply methods for analysing the wider economic impacts of transport investment. You will design and conduct high-quality research on the productivity, employment, and place-based impacts of transport interventions, using tools such as econometrics, data science, and GIS. Your work will inform updates to the Department's Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG), particularly the A2 and M5.3 units, contributing directly to the Government's Growth Mission and the implementation of the 2025 Green Book review.

This is a high-profile post at the heart of DfT's analytical community, offering opportunities to influence national investment decisions, develop appraisal guidance, and contribute to evidence-based policymaking across the transport sector.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Empirical research on transport impacts, such as: contextual factors driving transformational impact, understanding synergies across multiple interventions in a place, dynamic clustering, and induced investment.
• In-house analytical work using data sources and tools available across the Department, for example, transport data and the DfT Connectivity Tool.
• Advancing engagement with colleagues in academia through knowledge exchange formal collaborations, the latter may include co-funded PhD studentships and joint research bid developments.
• TAG ownership and updates of supplementary economic modelling guidance (M5.3) strengthen the methodological content and ensure it clearly links to and complements to guidance in the A2 units.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile.Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Essential qualifications:

A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification) or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline.

Successful candidates will be eligible for GES badging providing they meet the following criteria. This is not mandatory for the role.

• Have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.
• Have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK

Required experience:

• Working knowledge, strong theoretical understanding (Master's degree level or higher), or a willingness and demonstrable capability to grapple with key concepts in transport economics and appraisal, covering at least two of: values of time, travel demand modelling, agglomeration economics, urban economics, quasi-experimental econometric evaluation methods (e.g. difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity design or synthetic control), housing economics, choice modelling, supplementary economic modelling (including CGE and LUTI modelling).
• Experience of communicating complex technical subjects to a range of audiences, including internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working on a project involving transport economics.
• Experience of researching, designing and delivering economic analysis to influence policy decisions.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role (see below for contact details).

Qualifications

A first or second class honours degree in economics or related field (or equivalent qualification) or a postgraduate degree in a relevant numerate discipline.

Successful candidates will be eligible for GES badging providing they meet the following criteria. This is not mandatory for the role.

•

have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics.

•

have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• GES Technical Framework – Application of knowledge
• GES Technical Framework – Analysis of Data

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,515, Department for Transport contributes £16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King's birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Experience of communicating complex technical subjects to a range of audiences, including internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience working on a project involving transport economics.
• Experience of researching, designing and delivering economic analysis to influence policy decisions.

The sift will take place from Monday 1st December 2025.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing
• Experience – Working knowledge, strong theoretical understanding (Master's degree level or higher), or a willingness and demonstrable capability to grapple with key concepts in transport economics and appraisal, covering at least two of: values of time, travel demand modelling, agglomeration economics, urban economics, quasi-experimental econometric evaluation methods (e.g. difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity design or synthetic control), housing economics, choice modelling, supplementary economic modelling (including CGE and LUTI modelling).
• Technical – GES Application of Knowledge and Analysis of Data

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Behaviour Communicating and Influencing and Technical Analysis of Data. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Your technical skills will be assessed against the Government Economic Service (GES) Framework, which can be found here.

The interviews will take place from Monday 15th December 2025.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site .

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

AI Tools and Platforms

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name : Iven Stead
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email:

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

---