Principal, Economics

Ofcom; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Ofcom is seeking a Principal in the Economics and Analytics Group to apply econometric methods and data analytics to inform regulatory policy. You will lead multidisciplinary teams on diverse projects, shaping research design and policy evaluation while engaging with internal and external stakeholders.

The role emphasizes rigorous economic analysis, strategic decision-making, and contributions to regulatory economics across UK communications sectors.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to apply econometric techniques to policy research and regulation.
• Experience using quantitative methods to inform policymaking and evaluate outcomes.
• Strong collaboration and communication across policy teams and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of economists, econometricians and data analysts on Ofcom projects.
• Identify and analyse economic and policy issues and define appropriate empirical approaches.
• Provide high-quality economic and quantitative analysis and steer project direction with stakeholders.
• Communicate complex econometric concepts clearly in governance and stakeholder meetings.

Skills

Applied econometrics

Data science

Policy evaluation

Regulatory economics

Communication

Job description

Closing Date

02/11/2026

Group

Economics and Analytics Group

Management Level

Principal

Job Type

Permanent

Job Description

Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 2 November, and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 1 November.

About Ofcom

As the UK's communications regulator, we're delivering vital work that helps keep the UK connected and shapes the future of how we'll stay connected with each other.

Our work covers everything from phones and broadband, through to TV, radio, the postal service, and wireless devices. We're also taking on the challenge of making the online world a saferplace. And we need people of all backgrounds, skillsets, and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

About the Team

Ofcom's Economics and Analytics Group is a dynamic team of around 130 applied microeconomists, econometricians, behavioural economists, data analysts and finance experts. We help shape policy based on insights from economic theoryand empirical research and strive to be thought leaders in how we apply economics and quantitative analysis to benefit UK consumers and citizens in communication matters. We also activelycontribute to economic debates in the communications sector through publishing discussion papers.

We workacross all sectors regulated by Ofcom, often going beyond traditional telecoms and broadcasting regulation. Recentexamplesofourworkinclude:

Recent Examples of Our Work

• Evaluating the effectiveness of behavioural interventions to help users assess content online through an adaptive randomised control trial (see paper here ).
• Evaluating the impactof Twitch's content classification labelling using machine learning techniques and a regression discontinuity design (see paper here ).
• Measuring the diversity of news content online using natural language processing (see paper here ).
• Quantitative analysis supporting Ofcom regulation of the fixed telecoms markets that underpinbroadband, mobile and business connections (see policy statement here).
• Supporting the Competition and Markets Authority in its investigation of the Vodafone/Three mobile merger.

Purpose of the Role

We are looking for a high calibre candidate with proven experience in applying economics and quantitative expertise to inform policymaking andthe ability to leadprojects and workstreams across the following areas:

• Applied econometrics: econometric analysis underpinning research and policy projects, including identifying data requirements and applying appropriate methods for policy evaluation (e.g., difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity design, etc.), randomised control trials or structural estimation.
• Data science: analysis applying data science techniques to regulatory and competition economics (e.g., content classification, natural language processing, regression trees, etc.) in combination with econometrics.
• Competition and regulatory economics: assessing markets and consumer issues and shaping developments in Ofcom's regulated sectors.
• Policy Evaluation: designing policies and evaluating their expected impact and outcomes.

At Ofcom, we value your well-being and provide an environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. For example, through participation in training on advanced methods or economics conferences.

You Will Get the Opportunity To

• Collaborate with teams of economists, data analysts, policy professionals, market researchers, technologists and lawyers on diverse and stimulating projects across a broad range of sectors.
• Apply economic expertise and quantitative techniques to address challenging questions, often leveraging cutting‑edge analysis and data.
• Make a real impact on society while achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Your Key Responsibilities

As a Principal, and senior colleague within the group, you will:

• Leadteams of economists, econometricians and data analysts that are integral to Ofcom projects, including on severalprojects and workstreams concurrently.
• Identify and analyse economic and policy issues, and consider the analysis and evidence needed to reach robust decisions. Thismayinclude developing theoretical insights to inform policy design and applying a range of empirical techniques such as econometric modelling or machine learning.
• Provide high‑quality economic and quantitative analysis, including anticipating and considering counter-arguments ordifferent pointsof viewandprovidingthe overalldirectionforanalysisandthe strategicapproachonprojects, notjustfromatechnicalstandpointbutalsoconsidering internalandexternalstakeholders.
• Communicateeconomicissuesandquantitativeconceptsconvincinglywhenattending team meetings, governance meetingsand meetingswithourstakeholders.
• Support…truncated here “… Contributetothe developmentof othercolleagues, especially in e