Lead Economist - US Construction and Infrastructure - Remote US

Oxford Economics; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Oxford Economics in Philadelphia, US, seeks an experienced economist to join its Construction & Infrastructure practice. You will lead project delivery, identify opportunities, and strengthen the firm’s North American market presence.

You will work across areas such as cost escalation analysis, market capacity studies, and feasibility analyses, collaborating with leadership and clients to deliver high‑quality advisory services.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in economics or related field.
• At least 5 years applying economic analysis in construction/infrastructure.
• Proven experience selling and delivering advisory services to North America clients in construction, transportation or infrastructure.
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented with initiative and drive.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills to identify opportunities and competitive landscapes.
• Experience managing and developing staff.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Willingness to travel to meet clients and industry events.

Responsibilities

• Lead and proposal generation: Identify and cultivate new business opportunities, lead proposal development, pricing strategies, and contract negotiations.
• Client Engagement: Deliver high quality projects, maintain relationships, upsell and cross-sell services.
• Team Collaboration: Work with C&I leadership, Global Construction Service team, and North American peers across Oxford Economics.

Skills

Postgraduate economics

Economics analysis

Sales/BD experience

Self-motivated

Strategic thinking

Staff management

Communication skills

Willingness to travel

Education

Post graduate degree in Economics

Job description

Department: Construction & Infrastructure

Location: Philadelphia, US

Description

Oxford Economics is a global advisory firm founded in 1981 in partnership with Oxford University's business college. We specialize in economic forecasting, modelling, and advisory services for companies, financial institutions, and governments worldwide. With offices in key locations around the globe, we employ a diverse team of economists, consultants, and industry experts, making us a leader in economic analysis and advisory services.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and results-driven economist to join our growing Construction and Infrastructure practice in North America. You will play a pivotal role in driving our business growth by identifying and capturing new opportunities, leading our project delivery, and enhancing our U.S. market presence.

You will have the opportunity to pursue the following service areas across the U.S. for construction and infrastructure related clients:

• Cost escalation analysis: decomposing sources of cost escalation (.e.g., materials price inflation, wage inflation, etc), forecasting construction cost escalation for major projects or sectors.
• Market capacity and supply analysis: evaluate the construction industry’s ability to deliver major projects, incl. labor market analysis by occupation, and analysis of markets for building materials, plant & equipment and other relevant constraints (e.g. local content regulations)
• Business cases, cost-benefit and infrastructure feasibility analyses: help governments and investors assess the economic viability and value-for-money of infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and proposal generation: Identify and cultivate new business opportunities through proactive prospecting, networking, and relationship building with potential clients and partners. Lead the development of proposals, including value propositions, pricing strategies, and contract negotiations. Support subscription BD team with Global Construction Service demonstrations.
• Client Engagement: Deliver high quality projects to build and maintain strong relationships with existing clients, ensuring client satisfaction and identifying opportunities for upselling and cross-selling of services.
• Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with C&I leadership and team members, our Global Construction Service subscription team and with your North American peers across Oxford Economics.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Post graduate degree in Economics or a related field
• Minimum 5 years experience applying economic analysis in the construction or infrastructure sectors or applied econometric analysis in a related field
• Demonstrated experience selling and delivering economic advisory services to construction, transportation or infrastructure clients in North America.
• Self-motivated and goal-oriented, with a strong sense of initiative and drive.
• Strategic thinking and analytical skills to identify market opportunities, assess competitive landscapes, and develop winning strategies.
• Experience managing and developing staff.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex ideas to clients and senior executives.
• Willingness to travel as needed to meet with clients and attend industry events.

We offer a competitive remuneration package, including a performance-related bonus.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Oxford Economics is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.