Economic Development Specialist

Socio-Economics and Economic Development Consultant

Location: London, Brighton, Bristol or Warrington (hybrid working available)

Salary: London-based: £55,000 to £58,000 | Outside London: £50,000 to £53,000

Contract: Permanent opportunity

We are working in partnership with an independent environmental organisation recognised for its meaningful and technically robust work across socio-economics, economic development, environmental assessment, and policy. The organisation plays a vital role in helping public and private sector clients understand and respond to the social and economic impacts of major projects and strategies—both in the UK and internationally. With a collaborative, values-driven culture and a reputation for high-quality, award-winning work, the business continues to grow and expand its influence across a wide range of sectors.

As part of this growth, they are seeking an experienced Consultant to lead and further develop their socio-economics and economic development offering. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong technical expertise and a strategic mindset to step into a visible leadership role. You’ll work across a diverse portfolio of projects, support junior colleagues, and play an important part in shaping the direction of a specialist team.

The Role

You will be responsible for delivering socio-economic assessments, supporting strategic development planning, and contributing to evidence-based policy work. Projects span both public and private sectors—including planning applications, regeneration schemes, levelling-up initiatives, and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)—with a strong focus on long-term sustainability and social value.

Working alongside experts in environmental policy, economics, and natural capital, you will:

• Lead socio-economic assessments, including within the EIA process
• Conduct social infrastructure and open space assessments
• Provide advice on subnational economic development and regional policy
• Work closely with local authorities, developers, and other public sector stakeholders
• Contribute to bids and business development initiatives

About You

To succeed in this role, you will bring a solid background in economic development and socio-economic analysis, ideally gained within consultancy, government, academia, or a relevant public policy environment.

You will have:

• A degree in economics, geography, town planning, or a related social science
• Demonstrated experience in socio-economic and economic development analysis
• Experience preparing assessments within the EIA process
• A good understanding of UK socio-economic data sources and policy frameworks
• Familiarity with HM Treasury Green Book and other government guidance
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience mentoring or managing junior colleagues
• Experience presenting at Examinations in Public (EIPs)
• International project experience
• Involvement in competitive tendering and client engagement
• Experience in Health Impact Assessment (HIA), especially within EIA or DCO contexts

Ideal backgrounds include:

Town Planning, Economic Development, Urban Studies, Public Policy, or consultancy roles at organisations – experience engineering, advisory and science-based expertise

What’s on Offer

You’ll be joining an organisation that actively supports both professional development and employee wellbeing. In addition to a competitive salary, benefits include:

• Enhanced pension contributions
• Private medical insurance
• Generous annual leave (with the option to purchase more)
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Life assurance
• Season ticket and cycle-to-work schemes
• Structured CPD and training programme
• Employee recognition awards and mental health support

The company fosters a collaborative, inclusive culture, built around shared values of professionalism, integrity, and community. If you're seeking a new challenge and want to make a real impact in a forward-thinking and growing consultancy, we’d love to hear from you.