Economic Advisor - Lower Thames Crossing Analysis

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave increasing with service

Access to staff discount portal

Career development opportunities

24-hour Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working options

Job summary

A government department in the UK is seeking an economist for a pivotal role in leading the appraisal for the Lower Thames Crossing project. You will manage a junior economist and engage with various stakeholders, ensuring robust analysis and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will have experience with the Green Book and will communicate complex data effectively. Attractive benefits include a comprehensive pension scheme and career development opportunities, with a flexible working model.

Qualifications

• Experience applying Green Book or Better Regulation Framework to support investment decisions.
• Work closely with policy/project teams to identify evidence needs.
• Ability to communicate complex data and ideas to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and delivery of the appraisal for the Lower Thames Crossing project.
• Provide leadership to legislative/regulatory policy work and impact assessments.
• Build working relationships with technical advisors and ensure performance.

Skills

Experience applying Green Book or Better Regulation Framework

Stakeholder engagement

Communicating complex data

Job description

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕒 Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

The postholders will work closely with the Lower Thames Crossing Sponsorship policy team, CofE teams across the Dept, the Transport modelling and appraisal team in the Dept, the National Highways project team and technical consultants. This will include colleagues at senior levels including the Chief Analyst.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Providing leadership in the development and delivery of the appraisal for the Lower Thames Crossing project as it progresses through the Outline and Final Business Case stages - including line-managing a junior economist, supporting their professional development, maintaining a robust analytical plan, and allocating work effectively.
• Providing leadership to the legislative and/or regulatory policy work required under the potential scheme delivery options including leading of the required impact assessments.
• Building a close working relationship with technical advisors, while driving performance and providing critical challenge to maximise assurance.

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.

About you

This role is suitable for an economist who is ready for a challenging, project/policy-facing role. You will need to be confident working with and influencing a range of stakeholders, familiar with Green book or the Better Regulation Framework and finding pragmatic and innovative solutions to emerging challenges.

You will need to demonstrate the following experience:

• Experience applying Green Book or the Better Regulation Framework to support investment/policy decisions or legislative/regulatory changes.
• Working closely with policy/project/central analytical teams across organisations to identify what evidence is needed, plus designing and delivering analysis to meet policy/departmental needs and to uphold standards.
• Experience of communicating complex data and ideas clearly and tactfully to a range of technical and non-technical audiences in an authoritative, informative and engaging manner.

📅 Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 12th March 2026