Lead Economist
Salary up to £50,000 (Depending on Experience)
37.5 hours per week
Generous pension contribution
Full-time, home based with some UK-wide travel.
Closing Date: Friday 10th July 2026
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and data-driven Lead Economist to drive ECITB’s economic research, forecasting, and labour market analysis.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead high-quality research projects and insight, helping to establish ECITB as a recognised authority in labour market, skills and industry economics.
About you
You’ll lead ECITB’s economic modelling, forecasting and research—turning complex evidence into actionable intelligence that contributes to strategy, investment, and policy. This role works closely with internal colleagues and external stakeholders such as economists, analysts and research specialist. Being a trusted voice on skills, productivity, and future workforce challenges, directly influencing the long-term success of the engineering construction industry.
Experiences & Qualifications
- Master’s level in a relevant subject (economics, data science, social science).
- Experience operating as a senior economist, ideally with expertise in labour market economics, skills economics or applied micro/macro analysis.
- Demonstrable experience of economic modelling, forecasting and scenario analysis, including setting methodological approaches.
- Proven ability to design and assure complex analytical frameworks and models that inform strategic and investment decisions.
- Excellent writing skills, with the ability to provide tailored communications from technical reports to succinct briefings. High credibility with senior stakeholders, with experience influencing policy and investment decisions using economic evidence.
- Experience of managing commissioned research projects.
- Ability to anticipate longer-term changes, threats and opportunities for the ECI and ECITB, identifying and evaluating risk effectively.
- An interest in/willingness to learn about the engineering construction industry.
What we offer
- Laptop and mobile phone provided.
- 37.5 hours p/week with flexible daily start and finish times.
- 25 days holiday including Christmas closure, rising to 30 over the first five years’ service.
- Holiday selling and purchasing scheme.
- Generous pension scheme via salary sacrifice.
- Cycle to work and e-car lease schemes.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Enhanced maternity/paternity pay and leave.
- Home office set-up assistance.
About us
The ECITB works with employers and training providers to attract, develop and qualify the engineering construction workforce in a wide range of craft, technical and professional disciplines.
We invest about £25 million each year to support skills development within the industry. We are funded by a statutory levy paid by employers and use this to drive up skill levels and fund training that would otherwise not take place.
Along with the education sector, government and employers, we work to ensure the UK has workers with the skills to meet the needs of the engineering construction industry.
ECITB is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community, particularly those that are underrepresented in the engineering construction industry.
Our values: About the ECITB - ECITB
