Economist

You will support the economics teams to assess the value for money of spending within National Highways. This can involve the preparation of value for money statements, supporting our research agenda to improve appraisal in the company and communicating the value for money of the portfolio to the Leadership Team. One-off projects include supporting the creation of the Business Case for investment for the Future Road Period as well as individual road schemes.

You will join an existing team of 13 economists working at the strategic centre of the Company. You will be passionate about working with others and passing on your experience, so National Highways and its supply chain continue to deliver more value for every £1 spent.

• You will take responsibility for your own learning while becoming a professional economist. You will also be responsible for gaining hands-on micro and macroeconomics experience.
• Support the Principal Economists in the creation of the Business Cases for Future Road Periods.
• Present a clear view of appraisals at required intervals to Principal Economists and the Head of Economics. This will be used to develop a consistent view of Value for Money across the portfolio of activities undertaken by National Highways.
• Work with Senior Economists to undertake economic research to provide a more complete vision of value for taxpayers, road-users and society. This is likely to involve exploring more effective communication tools as well as developing an understanding of technical appraisal methods.
• Support the development of new analytical capbilities through novel research, tool-building and guidance production.
• Support application of key VfM controls through quality analysis and VfM statements. You will also produce analysis to appraise investments through the IDC process in support of the Subject Matter Advisors (in this context, Senior and Principal Economists).

About you

• A graduate with a recent Undergraduate Degree with at least 50% Economics content or a Masters with a strong component of Economics.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to draw and present key insights from written documents, and from quantitative and qualitative data; good attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills; ability to communicate complex ideas concisely, both using rigorous economic language and in plain English.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to work well as part of a team and to build collaborative working relationships.
• Good time management and effective organisational skills.
• Enthusiastic, motivated and willing to support colleagues across the organisation.
• Evidence of excellent written and verbal communications skills.

About Us

The Analysis division plays a crucial role at the heart of National Highways, providing strategic direction to the organisation and working closely with all the other directorates to enable delivery of the company's ambitious agenda. We lead on key corporate initiatives including the long-term ambition for our Strategic Road Network (SRN), the production and review of the 5-year Strategic Business and Delivery Plans which support our Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) and developing our national plans covering route strategies, investment and economic growth. The Economics Team provides high quality analytical services to inform these initiatives and wider decision-making right across the organisation, ensuring that National Highways prioritises expenditure to maximise the return for taxpayers.

Why you should join us

At National Highways we believe in a connected country. We are passionate about creating a culture where colleagues feel connected, included and enjoy greater wellbeing to achieve this. We’re proud that as an organisation we are continually striving to do better and actively encourage and support our colleagues to do the same with their careers.

So, if you put safety first, take ownership of your work, show passion for what you do, work effectively in a team, and demonstrate integrity in how you do it – then you’ll be a great fit for our organisation.

Our vision is that everyone who uses our roads, as well as those who work for us, get home, safe and well. Our Home Safe and Well approach sets out our commitments and how our employees can contribute.

Working for us, you’ll recognise the behaviours required to achieve our vision and help create a fair and just culture for us all. You should be able to fully understand the hazards and risks that are involved in your work and follow our procedures safely.

We want you to feel able to raise health, safety and wellbeing concerns with your colleagues, and to challenge unsafe conditions or behaviours wherever you see them. We’re always seeking to improve our performance and want you to be at the heart of that - helping us all get home safe and well.