Economic Advisor

Job summary

Can you see yourself shaping the future of active travel through meaningful economic insight and collaboration across government?

Do you thrive on using evidence and analysis to champion smarter investment decisions that make a real difference?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Active Travel England is enabling people nationwide to be more active by making streets safe and accessible for walking, wheeling and cycling. We do this by building capability across the country to deliver high-quality networks, routes and places. We engage, we enable, we assure and we advocate to make active travel a core part of transport planning. At the heart of everything we do is raising standards in street design, to ensure our country’s streets become safer and more accessible.

ATE’s ambition is to put data, analysis and evidence at the heart of decision-making. To do this it needs a strong, capable, multi-disciplinary analytical team.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

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

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the economics function in ATE, engaging with and supporting the wider active travel analyst community across the department. It is a broad and varied role that will involve technical analysis, programme design and management, and building effective, collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders working in active travel and related fields.

The analysis that you will provide is critical to ensuring that ATE understands what initiatives to invest in and where to focus investment to meet its statutory responsibilities, achieve its strategic objectives, and optimise value for money to the taxpayer. It will also be pivotal in making the case for future investment in active travel and demonstrating the contribution active travel makes to the UK economy, society, and the environment. It will have a prominent role in advice to Ministers and in negotiations with His Majesty’s Treasury and No.10.

You will enable the economics team to:

• Strengthen links between appraisal and evaluation, working closely with ATE’s research and evaluation leads to ensure relevant appraisal data is available to feed into planned evaluation projects and providing professional input into the design, delivery and quality assurance of evaluations.
• Build the evidence base and improve the availability of data on the impact and value for money of active travel investments in England, working closely with colleagues from across the Digital, Data and Analysis Directorate.
• Champion value for money in investment decision-making, ensuring it is a key consideration and highlighting any risks and uncertainties that should be accounted for by decision-makers. This will include helping to embed knowledge and capability within delivery partners such as Local Transport Authorities (LTAs).
• Lead analytical input into Ministerial briefings, external comms, strategy development, and business case development. This includes ensuring evidence informing and underpinning the case for investment is fit-for-purpose; undertaking options assessment and economic appraisal of preferred options; and drafting the economic case.
• Monitor performance of the value for money of ATE’s investment portfolio. This includes using existing data and evidence to determine the typical costs, benefits and value for money of different types of active travel interventions and how this varies by context.

For further information on the role, please read the attached 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

You will need the following experience:

• You are an experienced economist with a strong track record of designing and leading timely delivery of complex analytical programmes.
• You have demonstrable experience of developing robust and proportionate approaches to appraise and assess value for money of investment proposals, including expertise in leading cost benefit analysis and application of techniques detailed in the Green Book and supplementary guidance.
• You have strong analytical skills and demonstrable experience of using analysis to influence strategic and operational decision-making.
• You can build and manage effective working relationships with people from a range of disciplines and across organisational boundaries.
• You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, changeable environment and able to adapt quickly and easily to change.
• You have demonstrable experience of scoping, designing and delivering economic analysis to influence policy decisions.
• You have experience of communicating complex technical subjects to a range of audiences, including senior stakeholders.
• You have experience of designing and leading the delivery of value for money evaluation utilising guidance in the Magenta Book and Green Book.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 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

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Qualifications

GES Entry requirements:
•First or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent)
•OR a postgraduate degree in economics
•If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics
•The degree(s) must have included both macroeconomics and microeconomics

See the GES Membership webpage for more details.

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

Technical skills

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

• GES Technical Framework - Application of Knowledge
• GES Technical Framework - Analysis of Data
• GES Technical Framework - Effective Communication

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,515, Active Travel England contributes £16,662 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:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here

• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).

• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

• Access to the staff discount portal.

• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.

• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.

• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies (opens in a new window).

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.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

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:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• You are an experienced economist with a strong track record of designing and leading timely delivery of analytical programmes.
• You have demonstrable experience of developing robust and proportionate approaches to appraise and assess value for money of investment proposals, including expertise in undertaking cost benefit analysis and application of techniques detailed in the Green Book.
• You have strong analytical skills and demonstrable experience of using analysis to influence strategic and operational decision-making or policy making.
• You can build and manage effective working relationships with people from a range of disciplines and across organisational boundaries.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The sift will take place week commencing 6th April 2026

Stage 2: Interview

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

• Behaviours – Working Together, Managing a Quality Service, Seeing the Big Picture.
• Experience
• Technical – GES Framework - Level 3 – Expert (G7).

The interviews will take place week commencing 20th April 2026

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

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.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

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 : Chris Stewart
• Email : chris.stewart@activetravelengland.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 Opens in new window (docx, 92kB)