Principal Consultant - Economist in City of London

Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable world. Ricardo plc (Member of WSP) is a global strategic, environmental, and engineering consulting company, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Ricardo’s Policy, Strategy & Economics Practice supports governments and corporate clients all over the world with policy analysis, strategic advice and economic appraisal to address the most pressing challenges relating to climate change and the environment, energy and mobility.

The Role

We are looking for Principal Consultants with experience and expertise in applied economics to join our vibrant multi-national team within Ricardo’s Policy, Strategy and Economics (PSE) Practice. You will work on leading edge policy and research studies for a range of clients including the European Commission, the UK and other national governments, international financial institutions (IFIs), trade associations and individual companies. You must have strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, team and business development leadership experience, and an interest in continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical project delivery and quality assurance, comprising primary and secondary research, stakeholder engagement, data management and analysis, qualitative analysis, socio-economic impact analysis, synthesis, report writing.
• Work on multiple exciting projects, managing your time and contributions effectively.
• Join the senior leadership team to develop actionable solutions for climate-focused policy, strategy, and economics challenges.
• Deploy your skills in research, economic analysis, and client-facing communication.
• Provide mentorship to more junior team members.
• Lead business development activities.

Key Competencies and Experience

• An MSc degree (or near completion) in Economics or related fields.
• Demonstrable experience within consultancy environments, leading proposals and projects for European Commission, UK and other national governments, and international organisations.
• Expertise in social research and applied economics in policy design and appraisal, especially across areas such as the environment, energy and mobility.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to synthesize data to support evidence-based solutions.
• Excellent communication skills—both written and verbal. You can simplify technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel and Word are key); proficiency in statistical software desirable.
• A collaborative mindset—you’re a team player who thrives in diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Fluency in English (Spanish required for roles in Madrid; other languages are a plus).

Working here

You will be warmly welcomed into our workplace where every voice matters. We are diverse thinkers and doers, coming together to create a culture of inclusion. We will support you to find your place. We will encourage you to use your passion and expertise to make a positive impact through the projects you work on. Your knowledge and desire to bring about change will be invaluable in helping deliver innovative solutions that support communities across the globe in becoming safer and more sustainable.

Work life balance

We offer flexible approaches to work, whether that is working from home, being in the office, or as a hybrid worker. We’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. Wellbeing is at the core to our culture, allowing employees to flourish and to achieve their full potential.

Benefits

We want you to know how much you are valued. Your remuneration and benefits package will reflect that. You will receive a range of benefits which include support for your physical and mental health.

Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion statement

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. We have an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach. We value diversity; recognising that a more diverse workforce creates a richer and more varied working environment. Diversity also drives innovation, by allowing us to offer our clients the best consultancy service that we can. As part of our commitment to engage positively and pro-actively with all our employees and to ensure an inclusive culture, we are recognised as a 'disability confident' employer.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.