Associate / Associate Director of Economics

The role will build on the range of work we are already doing in the region with colleagues in other teams. It covers marketing and securing work and directing, managing and delivering consultancy projects. The role will be based in either Manchester or Liverpool, but operate flexibly across the region.

Key Responsibilities

**The role of the Associate / Associate Director is to**:
Support the head of department and directors in building up the Economics team
Work with the head of department and directors in preparing and updating the team’s business plan
Lead on/work with others on marketing and bids to secure work
Manage larger projects
Direct small/medium size projects, leading on to directing larger projects with successful performance
Working with the head of department and directors to ensure the profitable performance of the team in line with agreed targets
Manage other staff as appropriate with successful growth of the team.

**Key Activities**:
Business planning and setting of strategy
Marketing
Draw up, present and negotiate competitive proposals
Liaise and cultivate good relationships with clients and fellow professionals
Builds relationships with other divisions with a view to create joint business development opportunities
Take responsibility for projects from the earliest stages through to completion
Undertake research and analysis
Develop creative and original solutions to satisfy all parties
Write complex reports, interpreting data and making clear and relevant recommendations
Prepare/make presentations at meetings
Communicate and negotiate effectively with clients and colleagues
Effective financial management of projects to ensure profitable delivery
Team building
Management of junior staff (with successful growth of the team)
Maintain an awareness of market conditions and the impact of government policies
Keep informed about documents relating to relevant policy and practice
Attends external events to create local contacts and identify business opportunities.

Key Skills

Excellent written and communication skills
Detail conscious, accurate
Thrives under pressure, can work to tight deadlines
Team player
Strives to deliver an exceptional level of service to clients at all times
A good knowledge of the UK planning system and how to prepare property development frameworks and strategies
Numerical and analytic skills, preferably including modelling expertise (usual in Excel) and ability to carry out property appraisals
Expertise in successfully managing projects and teams to budget and programme (essential).
Consultancy experience (strongly desirable)
A degree in town planning, geography, property surveying, economics, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience
An MSc/MBA/equivalent qualification in a relevant field (desirable), or overall equivalent experience

Team Overview

Our growing Planning Economics Team is made up of 20 Economists from Junior to Director level. We have established a reputation as one of the leading players in the UK covering property and economic and social analysis and research.

**Our work involves**:
Economic and social analysis to inform planning decisions - including economic benefit and impact assessment of development schemes, EIA chapters, health impact assessments, social infrastructure needs assessments and negotiations, and equalities impact assessments
Funding bids and business cases - Including Treasury Green Book compliant analysis and Five Case Business Cases to secure public funding including Levelling Up, Towns Fund, Homes England funding, as well as for major infrastructure projects
Property market analysis - including supply and demand analysis for commercial and employment uses including office, industrial, retail and leisure space
Strategic research - considering economic trends and growth forecasts to inform development plans or wider economic strategy
Financial viability analysis - considering the costs and potential values of development schemes to inform decision making regarding development projects
Low carbon research and environmental economics.

**Examples of our work in the region includes**:
Leading on the preparation of the Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport HS2 and NPR Growth Strategies for Manchester City Council
Successful £20m Levelling Up Funding bid for the Bolton College of Medical Sciences (BCMS) and development of a further 6 Levelling Up round 2 bids across the region
Bolton Town Investment Plan Business Case to secure £20 million for upgrades to the Market, Library, Office space and public realm works
Future of Liverpool Markets Study, to present an ambitious and transformational vision for the future of the markets
Ellesmere Port Industrial Area Development and Infrastructure Investment Framework, including presenting an ambitious vision and strategy to create a Net Zero Carbon Industrial Cluster
Leading property advice as Town Deal Delivery Partner for DLUHC advising all 101 towns across the country on