Senior Rail Economist: Regulatory Policy & Analysis

Principal Economist for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) focusing on economics, policy, regulation, and quantitative analysis.

About Our Client:

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain's railways and monitors performance on England's strategic road network. This is an exciting time to join ORR, as they are delivering a significant transformation programme to create a consistently agile and enabling organisation, with the right capability and a strong, inclusive culture that reflects their talented people. This will ensure they continue to operate as an independent, expert regulator, fit for the future and equipped with the capabilities and ways of working required to support sector-wide rail reform, while contributing to the government's broader agenda on regulatory reform and economic growth.

Job Description:

The Economics, Finance & Markets (EFM) directorate provides rigorous analysis to underpin the development of policy and support decision-making. It works on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy, and regulatory considerations. EFM's Rail Economics team works on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy, and regulatory matters. 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. The team works on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy, and regulatory matters. You will be expected to work flexibly across ORR's economic and financial analysis workstreams.

Your key responsibilities:

• Provide economic advice to internal and external stakeholders on the development of the future economic framework governing Great British Railways.
• Lead 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 bill.
• Contribute to the development of ORR's role as an appeals body for charges and performance schemes.
• Lead one or more reviews of the charging and incentives frameworks for High Speed 1, Eurotunnel, Crossrail, Core Valley Lines, and any other relevant infrastructure managers beyond Network Rail/GBR.
• Support the Head of Rail Economics in all aspects of leadership and management of the Rail Economics team, and contribute to the leadership of ORR's wider economics and analysis communities.
• Be flexible and adapt to changing needs as ORR's role in rail reform develops.

The Successful Applicant:

• Significant experience of economic analysis and policy development in a complex environment, including quantitative skills.
• Experience of engaging with external stakeholders.
• A good understanding of, and ability to apply, economic and financial principles to policy issues, such as in economic regulation, competition policy, transport, or other infrastructure sectors.
• Effective communication: building relationships, communicating to technical and non-technical audiences, conveying analysis to key stakeholders.

The lead criteria for this role is: Significant experience of economic analysis and policy development in a complex environment, including quantitative skills.

What's on Offer:

London £71,321 to £74,091 or Regional £66,516 to £69,557. This role can be based at any of the office locations: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, York, Glasgow. ORR has adopted hybrid working and is currently expected to work from a workplace location for a minimum of two days per week or 40%.