Graduate Economist (London/Manchester/Birmingham)

Overview

At Jacobs, we\’re challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the world\’s most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good.

Your impact

Join the Jacobs Graduate Development Programme (GDP) and have a meaningful, positive impact on our environments, communities and societies. Bring your passion, your ingenuity and your vision. Let’s see the impact we can create, together.

What will you get

Our Graduate Development Programme is a structured two-year scheme designed to support your development at the start of your Jacobs career journey. Through a combination of blended learning, mentoring, progress reviews and networking, you will establish yourself as knowledgeable and competent across four key focus areas; human skills, consulting skills, champion our strategy and your passions.

The Graduate Development Programme allows you to customise your learning journey to reflect your specific interests, career goals, and technical skillset – creating a graduate experience that is unique to you.

The GDP is an experience programme, meaning that a large portion of what you’ll learn will be on-the-job. You’ll work with your manager and mentor to collect the learning experiences that will be most meaningful for you.

The programme is more than just a steppingstone. It’s a launchpad for your career, offering you the tools, experiences and support you need. Join us and unlock your potential as you work on meaningful projects and collaborate with industry leaders to deliver outcomes and solutions for complex challenges.

About The Opportunity

Jacobs Programmes & Advisory team in Europe includes some 1,000 staff providing solutions to clients investing in, planning, constructing, operating, and maintaining assets in infrastructure sectors. Within this unit The Economics and Outcomes capability at Jacobs provides economic analysis and business case support to clients throughout the UK, Europe and wider.

Our economists at Jacobs allow clients to make better informed decisions within a world class professional services environment that delivers commercial success and societal well-being. In our market-leading Programmes & Advisory team, our work relates to

• Evidence based decision making.
• Supporting agile delivery and outcomes through performance measurement linked to continuous improvement in the programme lifecycle.
• Strategy, narrative and stakeholder communications.
• The expectation that we “Go Beyond.”

Our graduates support our projects and will be an integral part of our project delivery and business development functions founded upon sustainable development principles.

The start date for this position is September 2026.

What you’ll need

Here’s what you’ll need

• Be working towards a relevant Degree or Master’s level qualification in Economics, Business Studies, Geogorahy, History, Maths, Politcis
• A flexible self-starter who is keen to drive your career forward
• Adaptable to change, with a thirst for learning new things
• You must have the permanent right to work in the UK

Selection Process

• Step 1 Apply Online
• Step 2Solo Video Assessment
• Step 3 Interview

Apply before 19 October 2025 for your application to be considered in the first assessment window. You can still apply after this date if the role remains open to applications. However, you do so with the knowledge that we may not proceed with your application if the role is filled in the first assessment window.

What else we provide

• A flexible workstyle, embracing a hybrid working pattern and supporting those who need to balance work/life commitments a bit differently than others
• Free single medical cover and digital GP service
• Reimbursement towards relevant professional development and memberships
• A focus on safety, health, and wellbeing, prioritising our people through a culture of caring and positive mental health champion network
• Opportunities to give back to our communities through our Collectively program, incorporating matched-funding, paid volunteering time and charitable donations.

We want you to bring your whole, authentic self to Jacobs.

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Joining Jacobs not only connects you locally but globally. Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion and belonging. We put people at the heart of our business, and we truly believe that by supporting one another through our culture of caring, we all succeed. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

With safety and flexibility always top of mind, we’ve gone beyond traditional ways of working so you have the support, means and space to maximize your potential. You’ll uncover flexible working arrangements, benefits, and opportunities, from well-being benefits to our global giving and volunteering program, to exploring new and inventive ways to help our clients make the world a better place. No matter what drives you, you’ll discover how you can cultivate, nurture, and achieve your goals – all at a single global company. Find out more about life at Jacobs.

We aim to embed inclusion and belonging in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we’re more connected and creative. We accept people for who they are, and we champion the richness of different perspectives, lived experiences and backgrounds in the workplace, as a source of learning and innovation. We are committed to building vibrant communities within Jacobs, including through our Jacobs Employee Networks, Communities of Practice and our Find Your Community initiatives, allowing every employee to find connection, purpose, and belonging.Find out more about ourJacobs Employee Networks here.

Jacobs partners with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain talent from a wide range of backgrounds. For greater online accessibility please visit www.vercida.com to view and access our roles.

As a disability confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

We value collaboration and believe that in-person interactions are crucial for both our culture and client delivery. We empower employees with our hybrid working policy, allowing them to split their work week between Jacobs offices/projects and remote locations enabling them to deliver their best work.

Your application experience is important to us, and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. If you require further support or reasonable adjustments with regards to the recruitment process (for example, you require the application form in a different format), please contact the team via Careers Support.