Senior Assistant Economist: Carbon Centre of Excellence Department for Transport Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 26th October 2025 Location: Birmingham, Leeds (Hybrid) Salary: £44,241 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time We’re seeking a Senior Assistant Economist to lead high-impact analysis shaping transport investment across the Department for Transport. You'll play a key role in supporting the UK’s net zero ambitions by improving business case quality, advancing appraisal guidance, and ensuring robust economic evidence underpins major decisions. Based in our expert Transport Appraisal and Strategic Modelling division, you’ll influence cutting-edge policy on decarbonisation, collaborate with academia and industry, and drive analytical excellence across sustainable transport initiatives. Top Responsibilities * Enhance the quality and consistency of carbon appraisals across a vast array of large transport investment decisions, spanning rail, roads, aviation, maritime, and active travel. * Work with the Economics Centre of Excellence to ensure best practices in carbon measurement and valuation and maintain consistency across policies and projects. * Providing expert advice and assurance to embedded analytical teams and Arms-Length Bodies on individual business cases, including for schemes such as Lower Thames Crossing and Northern Powerhouse Rail. * Develop departmental abilities to appraise carbon impacts in line with the Green Book. Leverage innovative tools like blogs, videos, and modular learning content to disseminate knowledge. * Identify cross-cutting strategic appraisal issues and challenges arising across DfT’s investment portfolio, providing advice on how these may best be tackled based on existing guidance and, where necessary, recommending ways to improve or fill gaps in guidance. 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. About you To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience: * Applied Environmental Economics: Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of applied environmental economics, particularly its relevance to transport and decarbonisation policy. * Analytical Expertise: Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data, develop robust evidence, and provide clear, influential advice to support policy and investment decisions. Essential qualifications: This role is open to existing members of the Government Economics Service (GES) or those meeting the minimum requirements to join this profession. To join the GES as a full or associated membership, you must: * Have a 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. * Have studied both macroeconomics and micro-economics. You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn. How to Apply Read the full job description and apply at the Civil Service Jobs website using the link provided This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 26th October 2025