Principal analyst, Freight data analytics and modelling

Government Recruitment Service; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The Principal Analyst, Freight data analytics and modelling at Government Recruitment Service in Birmingham will lead a multimillion‑pound modelling programme, developing the National Freight Model and innovative data datasets to support UK policy.

You will engage with senior policy colleagues, manage external contracts, oversee data governance, and drive evidence‑based decisions while ensuring value for money. This is a permanent full‑time role with Civil Service benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex analytical programmes.
• Ability to develop innovative freight data solutions.
• Strong engagement with senior policy and analyst colleagues.
• Proven track record in data governance and datasets management.

Responsibilities

• Co-lead management of a complex modelling programme delivered through external contracts.
• Lead the data strategy for the model with innovative datasets.
• Promote evidence-based policy decisions through rigorous analysis.
• Oversee delivery plans, milestones, risks and stakeholder engagement.
• Manage contractors and ensure value for money and contractual outputs.
• Oversee acquisition and governance of complex datasets with compliance.
• Build relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Monitor programme governance, budgets and milestones with senior reporting.
• Communicate impact to senior policy colleagues and plan future evidence needs.

Skills

Analytical leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Freight data modelling

Data strategy

Job description

Principal analyst, Freight data analytics and modelling

Can you lead complex analytical programmes and develop innovative freight modelling and data solutions that shape national transport decisions?

Do you enjoy using evidence, data and stakeholder engagement to solve complex transport challenges and influence policy?

If so,we’dlove to hear from you!

This is an exciting time to join the world of freight and logistics. Every item of food on a supermarket shelf, box of medicine at a pharmacy and high-tech machine part in the UK has had a fascinating journey to get to its destination. Recent years have seen extraordinary innovation in how that happens but also revealed how fragile critical supply chains can be when there are shocks.

Freight and Borders (FAB) is a single point of leadership representing the interests of the Department for Transport and working closely with the freight and logistics sector to support the UK’s current and future border arrangements and the thousands of supply chains across the country that depend upon the continued flow of goods.

FAB is a fast-paced and dynamic environment where you will have the opportunity to be part of a fantastic team supporting and influencing the policy and delivery of some of the Government’s highest priorities. If you want to be part of a team whose work has an impact on millions of people’s lives across the country, we want to hear from you.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensionshere
• 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 aprivilege 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 whatit'slike working atDepartment for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

The post is based in Multimodal and Road Freight Analysis team (MRFA) within the Freight and Borders Analysis (FABA) division. The team works very closely with its multimodal and road policy teams and consists of analysts from multiple analytical professions, with strong ways of working across those professions. In addition, with its multimodal focus, the division works regularly with modal analyst teams across DfT as well as the central analytical divisions.

This role will provide you with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead a step change in the department’s modelling capability on freight, with huge implications for policy and the department’s investments. You will co‑lead the development of new in‑house National Freight Model (NFM), working closely with colleagues across the Transport Appraisal and Strategic Modelling team (TASM) in the central Analysis Directorate.

You will be managing a multi‑million pound project, with the opportunity to lead cutting‑edge consultancies and develop modelling/data innovations as part of the wider freight data and insights programme.

A core element of this role will be leading the data strategy for the model. The new model will give the chance to revolutionise the department’s freight data and to develop innovative new datasets on Light Goods Vehicles usage, port inland movements, commodity flows, etc. You will identify data needs; lead and manage the collection and procurement of datasets; and coordinate inputs from a range of internal and external sources to support the development of this new freight evidence base.

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

• Co‑lead the management of a complex modelling programme delivered through external contracts, ensuring outputs meet strategic objectives.
• Lead the data strategy for the model by developing innovative new datasets on Light Goods Vehicles usage, port inland movements, commodity flows, etc.
• Promote and champion the use of evidence and analysis in policy, as a visible analytical leader. Engage with senior policy and analyst colleagues to support effective decisions through your advice, even where the evidence is uncertain.
• Oversee delivery plans, tracking progress against milestones, and managing risks, dependencies, and stakeholder engagement across multiple workstreams.
• Manage contractors and commissioned work, including overseeing delivery against contractual outputs, and ensuring quality, value for money and alignment with programme objectives.
• Manage the acquisition, governance, and use of complex datasets, ensuring compliance with data protection, legal and commercial requirements.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, coordinating across multiple parties to deliver coherent outputs.
• Oversee programme governance, including monitoring progress, budgets, and milestones, and providing clear reporting to senior leaders.
• Communicate with impact to senior policy colleagues and senior analysts, using the best available evidence and analysis and Forward plan to identify future evidence needs.

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.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Company: Government Recruitment Service

Salary: £59,816 to £59,816 a year

Hours: Full-time

Location: Birmingham

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 16 Oct 2026

Closing date: 1 Nov 2026

About Disability Confident

Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.