Assistant Economist

Job summary

Can you produce and communicate high quality analysis to inform and support decisions?

Do you have a track record of delivering analysis with purpose and to tight deadlines?

Are you able to translate economic principles into practical, workable solutions for real policy challenges?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

DfT is a high-profile department at the heart of UK government. We work with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest to make journeys better.

Did you know that buses account for half of all public transport trips in England - more than twice as many as rail? They bring people to jobs, study and local services; they liberate people who are old, young, disabled and isolated; they save millions of tonnes of carbon and pollution, and thousands of miles of traffic jams.
The bus policy area has strong links to high priority Government missions including:

• Kickstart economic growth
• Breakdown barriers to opportunity

The role will provide economic analysis to support the implementation of the Bus Services Act 2025. This Act is a major step in bus reform and delivers the Government’s commitment to expand bus franchising powers. Franchising is a significant change for smaller local authorities, strong analysis is needed to build the evidence base and shape the support they will receive. The Act also introduces other measures, such as lifting the ban on Local Authority Owned Bus Companies, improving safety and accessibility, and giving councils more control over routes that are socially necessary.

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

You will be joining the Bus analysis team. We are a close team of 13 analysts, made up of a mixture of economists and social researchers, grades G6 to HEO. This team sits within the Local and Regional Transport Analysis division – a friendly, multi-disciplinary analytical team that works closely with policy teams and covers analysis on all aspects of Local Transport.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

1. Conducting analysis to support the implementation of the Bus Services Act 2025.
2. Providing ad‑hoc analytical support across wider workstreams that underpin the development and rollout of bus franchising.
3. Supporting the development and dissemination of the Bus Franchising Analysis Advice Note
4. Contributing to strategic work including shaping the ongoing development of the Outcomes Framework
5. Developing the evidence base for bus analysis. This includes identifying and addressing strategic gaps in the existing evidence by undertaking targeted research and analysis.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Strong analytical skills and experience working as a professional economist/analyst and undertaking economic analysis, particularly cost-benefit analysis.
2. Able to review and critique data sources and use appropriate assumptions where data is unavailable or not robust whilst clearly communicating these assumptions, risks and any sensitivities.
3. Able to apply economic principles to practical real-world problems.
4. Able to actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and stakeholders to achieve progress on shared objectives and government priorities.
5. Excellent communication and drafting skills, to enhance the impact of analysis in policy making and effectively influence decisions.

Additional information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Qualifications

A first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint economics degree, at least 50% of the total course credits must be in economics.
You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Application of Knowledge: 1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner
• Analysis of Data: 1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Analysis of Data: 1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:

• a generous annual leave entitlement
• attractive pension options with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• flexible working
• good career development opportunities
• a variety of career paths
• inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and 3 x 250 word statements

Stage 2: Interview

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – provide a 250-word statement on the following Behaviours:
• Communicating & Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Technical - Analysis of Data: 1.3 Level 2, please refer to the Technical Framework 20221121_-_GES_Technical_Framework_-_Dasgupta.pdf for more information.

The sift will take place week commencing 23/03/2026

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours – Communicating & Influencing, Working Together & Delivering at Pace
• Technical – 20221121_-_GES_Technical_Framework_-_Dasgupta.pdf Application of knowledge (1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner), Analysis of data (1.3 Level 2 – Practitioner)

The interviews will take place week commencing 13/04/2026

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

Further information on the selection process

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit theHow We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

All External applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour

Threats or acts of violence

Illegal activity or substance misuse

Sexually explicit material

Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public.

Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle—it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture.

If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Iona MacKinnon
• Email : Iona.MacKinnon@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

Attachments

Role Profile - SEO Assistant Economist - Bus Legislation & Strategy Opens in new window (pdf, 199kB)