Senior Economist

Job Title: Senior Economist

Contract Type: Permanent

Number of Posts: 1

Grade: Grade C (equivalent to Civil Service grade 7)

Salary:

• London: £57,114 - £62,698.
• Regional: £52,867-£58,486.

Hours/FTE: Full Time

Location: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Glasgow

Security Vetting: Baseline Personnel Security Standard

Reports To: Principal Economist

Direct Report(s): 0

Directorate: Economics, Finance and Markets

Team: Rail Economics

Team information

ORR's Rail Economics team works on a wide range of economic and policy issues, concerned both with leading development of rail policy and providing specialist advice.

The Rail Economics team is part of the Economics, Finance and Markets directorate, and works closely with the Regulatory Finance team which carries out financial analysis of rail markets.

Job Purpose

Make the move to rail economics in a unique role which shapes how the railway works in the UK.

We are a diverse team of talented economists working alongside industry experts and policy makers. As part of our team, your economic analysis can directly influence decision making and the development of key policies in UK rail regulation.

It's an exciting time to join the team as you will have the opportunity to contribute to the design of the emerging regulatory framework for a reformed rail industry following the creation of Great British Railways, which will bring together 'track and train' into one body. You can read more about the government's plans for the rail industry in its consultation document .

We work on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy, and regulatory matters. You will support our team's work on the charges train operators pay to access the rail network, and the financial incentive payments made by the industry which help to drive better performance on the rail network, as ORR's role in this area transitions to that specified in the government's rail reform consultation.

We also work with teams across ORR on the economic impact of potential changes to track, station or depot access for trains, including on the impact that operating new train services could have on existing markets. Your work will help to build a unique skill set which combines commercial expertise with public policy experience.

As a manager in our team, you are expected to be a role model for other members of the team and to positively demonstrate ORR's values. You are expected to take initiative in your role and maintain a strong sense of accountability for your own work.

In joining ORR you will benefit from flexible working patterns that support your personal commitments while developing a challenging career. We are committed to personal development and you will be offered attractive training opportunities to help develop your economic and professional skills.

Key Responsibilities

You will be expected to work flexibly across ORR's economic and financial analysis workstreams. Your key responsibilities, although not exhaustive, will include:

• Provide expert economic assessment and advice on the impact and implementation of policy proposals, for example, arising out of the government's rail reform programme.
• Deliver high quality economic analysis to support the review of the charging and financial incentive frameworks for infrastructure managers such as the high speed link for international services (operated by London St Pancras High Speed), Eurotunnel, Crossrail and Core Valley Lines.
• You may work on aspects of ORR's work on charges and incentives for Network Rail/GBR as ORR's role in this area transitions to the role specified in the government's rail reform consultation.
• You may also lead economic analysis of access applications, and lead analysis in ORR's programme of work carrying out economic and financial benchmarking of Network Rail/GBR's activities.
• Your work is also likely to include analysis to support projects run from ORR's Regulatory Finance and/or Competition teams.
• Provide analytical support to ORR's wider policy work.
• As a senior member of the Rail Economics team, you will also contribute to the leadership of the team and ORR's wider economics and analysis communities.
• Be an advocate for ORR by engaging with external stakeholders in a credible and convincing way.

Essential Criteria

When assessing your application, these are the criteria that you are assessed against:

Behaviours:

• Working together
• Developing self and others
• Communicating and influencing

Experience:

• Experience of economic/financial analysis in a policy, regulatory, competition or infrastructure/transport context

Technical:

• Application of knowledge: an excellent understanding of, and ability to apply, economic/finance principles to policy issues
• Sound quantitative and analytical skills, including spreadsheet modelling

Qualifications:

• Degree in economics or a discipline with a substantial quantitative component, or equivalent experience

This job description provides an overview of key duties and responsibilities and is not exhaustive. You may be expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities within the scope of your role and as appropriate for your grade.

How we will assess your application

At ORR, we use the Civil Service 'Success Profiles' framework for our recruitment. Please refer to the Candidate Information Pack accompanying this advert for details.

When completing your application form, please ensure you provide evidence of how you meet each of the essential criteria listed above for this post.

Shortlisting

We will assess you against all the essential criteria listed above.

If there are a large number of applications, we may conduct an initial pre-sift based on the lead criteria for this role which is: 'Experience of economic analysis in a policy, government, regulatory, competition or infrastructure context'.

Successful candidates at the pre-sifting stage will then progress to a full sift.

Interview

We will assess you against all the essential criteria at interview stage.

A presentation and/or an exercise may be included as part of our assessment for the essential criteria - the presentation would need to be prepared in advance.

The selection process may include a second interview.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy .

Your will be informed by email within 14 days of the job advert closing whether or not you are being invited to attend an interview. Currently, and subject to confirmation, interviews are expected to take place in the week starting 4 August.

Security Vetting

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) checks.