Senior Consultant - Economics (Environment Policy)

ICF; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A consulting firm specializing in environmental policy is seeking an Economist/Environmental Economist to join their team. This role involves applying economic principles to research and policy development across various environmental issues. Ideal candidates should have a relevant degree, strong analytical skills, and at least three years of relevant experience. Benefits include flexible working arrangements and comprehensive health coverage.

Benefits

Single Private Medical Insurance

Dental insurance

25 days annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Experience in delivering high-quality economic research.
• Understanding of Green Book and/or Magenta Book methodologies.
• Experience managing research projects and budgets.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Relevant professional experience of at least 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Apply economic principles to research policy questions.
• Develop tools to assess environmental costs and benefits.
• Build relationships with clients and external networks.
• Manage project teams and budgets.

Skills

Economic principles and theory

Cost-benefit analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Research skills

Education

Degree, Master’s degree or PhD in economics or related field

Job description

Overview

We are looking for an Economist / Environmental Economist to join our growing environmental policy team. The role will help shape the growth and direction of our practice across the UK and EU, engage in the delivery of a portfolio of projects, and undertake business development to win projects and drive forward expansion of ICF’s existing and new areas of work.

ICF provides independent policy research, evaluation and analytical support to UK public sector clients, such as Defra, DESNZ and Natural England. We provide robust evidence and strategic support to policy-makers and regulators, using the latest research and evaluation methodologies, advanced data science and behavioural insights. We work on issues at the top of today’s policy agenda, including:

• Biodiversity and natural capital

• Rural economy, agriculture and food

• Climate change and net zero

• Fresh water governance and policy

• Blue economy, marine planning and biodiversity

• Sustainable fisheries

• Technology and innovation

There will be opportunities to work across this portfolio and beyond. Your main responsibilities will be to:

• Apply economic principles and theory to research policy questions across a broad range of environmental issues

• Develop frameworks and tools to assess economic, social and environmental costs, benefits and trade-offs as part of ex-ante appraisal and ex-post evaluation

• Build relationships with clients and the team’s external networks and partnerships

• Contribute to the development of proposals, including building teams, developing methodologies and budgets

• Manage and coordinate project teams and budgets

• Manage and develop junior members of the team

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an economist with experience in delivering high quality economic research. You should be intellectually curious and a very well organised individual, with an ability to see the many dimensions of a policy problem and to engage and work with leading thematic experts. In addition to applied environmental economics experience, you will have:

• Degree, Master’s degree or PhD in economics, environmental economics or related discipline

• Good understanding of economic principles and their application

• Experience in the application of cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, business case development and/or value for money analysis

• Understanding of Green Book and/or Magenta Book methodologies

• Ability to think through the methodological challenges of investigating a topic

• Experience of managing research projects, budgets, teams and client interactions

• Experience or writing competitive bids and/or grant applications

• Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical experts and stakeholders

• Excellent written and oral English

• Relevant professional experience of at least 3 years

We are open to both entry-level researchers and experienced candidates. Prior experience in a consulting environment would be an advantage, but we also welcome applicants with backgrounds in academia, government and non-governmental employment.

Interested candidates are invited to demonstrate their skills, experience and interests by submitting a one-page cover letter and a two-page CV.

About us

Working at ICF means applying a passion for meaningful work with intellectual rigor to help solve the leading issues of our day. We are a purpose-driven company with a strong culture and values that prize collaboration, diversity, mutual respect, innovation, open communication, and opportunity for growth. Our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals.

Learn more about what we do and our commitment to inclusion. ICF is a privacy-conscious organization and your trust is paramount to us. Find out how we use and protect your data.

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Benefits

Our people at ICF are our most important asset, so we invest in them from the moment they arrive. When you join our team, you’ll have access to a range of benefits to help you live your life well. We offer a hybrid working policy to provide flexibility in office and remote work. Our wellbeing hub provides personalised support across wellbeing issues. We celebrate success with a recognition program called “You Matter”. We offer a range of competitive benefits, including:

• Single Private Medical Insurance cover with no restrictions on existing conditions
• Dental insurance and an online GP service
• 25 days annual leave, plus UK bank holidays (annual leave increases with years of service)
• Pension scheme with 5% of salary employer contribution
• Life assurance paying 4x annual salary and Group Income Protection paying 66% of salary for up to 5 years if off work on long-term sickness
• Enhanced parental leave policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental pay)

Candidate AI Usage Policy

ICF is committed to a fair interview process. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate or assist with responses during interviews is not permitted. If an accommodation involving AI is needed, please contact [e-mail].

London (GB80)