Principal Economist

Ofcom; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK communications regulator is seeking a Principal to lead economic analysis and team management. This role provides the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of professionals on significant projects that shape policy in various sectors. Candidates should have a strong foundation in microeconomics, team leadership experience, and skills in applying quantitative analysis to real-world scenarios. A degree in economics is required, with a postgraduate qualification viewed favorably. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Flexible work arrangements

Personal and professional growth opportunities

Accessibility and inclusivity in recruitment

Qualifications

• Solid foundation in applied microeconomics.
• Extensive experience applying economic concepts.
• Ability to interpret complex information with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams of economists integral to Ofcom projects.
• Provide high-quality economic analysis and strategic direction.
• Manage other economists across multiple projects.

Skills

Applied microeconomics

Economic analysis

Project management

Team collaboration

Quantitative skills

Education

Degree in economics

Postgraduate qualification (desirable)

Tools

Python

SPSS

R

Stata

SAS

Job description

Closing Date: 06 / 10 / 2025

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 6 October and therefore we advise getting your application in by no later than midnight on Sunday 5 October.

How to apply

Please send us your CV and a covering letter. The covering letter should explain what has motivated you to apply and how your skills and experience align with the requirements of the role.

You are able to upload multiple documents when you are asked to upload your CV.

Interview process

Candidates invited to interview may be required to deliver a short presentation as part of the assessment process.

About Ofcom

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

Our work covers a wide range including promoting competition in phone and broadband markets, making the online world safer, TV and radio, the postal service, and managing the airwaves used by wireless devices. We need people of all backgrounds, skill sets and experiences to help us achieve our goal of making communications work for everyone.

About the team you'll be part of

Ofcom's Economics and Analytics Group is a dynamic team of around 120 applied microeconomists, data analysts and finance experts.

As experts in evidence we help Ofcom by providing thought leadership, technical and sector expertise, and the economic and financial insights to shape policy and decisions.

We work across all sectors regulated by Ofcom, often going beyond traditional telecoms and broadcasting regulation. Recent work includes setting out plans for implementation of the Online Safety Act, proposals for regulating fixed telecoms markets and supporting the Competition and Markets Authority in its investigation of the Vodafone / Three merger. We also actively contribute to economic debates in the communications sector through published discussion papers.

The role - general

We are looking for applicants with expertise in one or both of the following specialisms:

• Competition and regulation economics: assess markets and consumer issues and shape developments in Ofcom's regulated sectors.
• Policy Evaluation: design policies and evaluate their impact and outcomes.

At Ofcom we value your well‑being and provide an environment that fosters both personal and professional growth. You will get the opportunity to:

• Collaborate with vibrant 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 to address challenging questions often leveraging cutting‑edge quantitative analysis and data.
• Make a real impact on society while achieving a healthy work‑life balance.

Your Key Responsibilities - Principal

As a Principal and senior member within the team you will:

• Lead teams of economists that are integral to Ofcom projects.
• Provide high‑quality economic analysis, including anticipating and considering counter‑arguments or different points of view, and setting the overall direction and strategic approach on projects.
• Be confident in managing other economists across multiple projects, workstreams and resources concurrently.
• Potentially be exposed to large data sets, spreadsheets or econometric models and be able to interpret these accordingly.
• Produce clear, well‑reasoned drafts of documents, including for publication.
• Communicate economic issues convincingly when attending team meetings, governance meetings and meetings with stakeholders.
• Be integral to the leadership, motivation and development of the Economics Team together with your fellow Principals and Directors.

The skills knowledge and experience you’ll need for success Principal

Job‑based skills

• A solid foundation in applied microeconomics gained through training in relevant specialisms (e.g. competition economics, regulation economics, industrial organisation, public economics, and/or quantitative skills).
• Extensive experience applying economic concepts in real‑world scenarios across a range of projects in consultancy, regulator, competition or consumer authority, government department, academia, research institute or regulated company.
• The ability to interpret complex information with attention to detail; advanced quantitative skills are an advantage.
• A degree in economics. A postgraduate qualification is desirable but not essential.

Grade‑based skills

• Articulating Ideas: A great communicator with the ability to work collaboratively within a team environment. You’ll be able to apply economic concepts to unfamiliar situations and communicate and simplify these concepts effectively both orally and in writing.
• Executing Plans: Adept with project management and able to effectively plan and organise economic analysis, including identifying work streams and coordinating resources efficiently. You’ll use thought leadership and be able to use new and creative approaches and frameworks.
• Empowering Development: You’ll have experience of or demonstrate the aptitude for coaching and mentoring less senior colleagues to get the best out of your team.

Inclusivity Statement

Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone. To deliver on this we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK. We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible, no matter your social background, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability. We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin we look forward to reviewing your application.

Where positions are listed as full‑time we remain open to reduced hours, part‑time arrangements, job shares and other flexible working options. From day one we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs. You can read more about our Rewards, Benefits and Well‑being on our careers page.

Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need adjustments, information in an alternative format or prefer to apply in a different way, please contact us.

As a Disability Confident Leader we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles. Learn more about this scheme here.

Experience

Staff IC

Key Skills

Forecasting, Python, SPSS, R, Regression Analysis, Stata, Research Experience, Statistical Software, Survey Design, Calculus, SAS, Statistics

Employment Type

Full‑Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1