Economist – Real Estate Advisory in Whitehall

At Turner & Townsend we are passionate about making a difference. Our success at realising outcomes for clients has resulted in significant growth and we are now facing a new wave of growth to achieve our ambitious 2025 vision. To reach this goal, we need great people who are passionate about both delivering great outcomes to our clients and contributing to our future vision.

We are seeking a proactive and resourceful Economist to join our dynamic and growing Real Estate Advisory team. In this role you will help clients to think strategically about how their estates and assets could be used to transform the way they work. This could involve providing strategic advice to key decision-makers to better understand their strategy and vision for the future; building the case for investment by identifying and quantifying the impact of a project or programme; or developing robust business cases to unlock critical funding opportunities for our clients.

This role will require you to think on your feet, understand and resolve complex problems, and to have excellent attention to detail. Each client we work with has unique requirements, challenges, and goals, which means no two projects are ever the same. You will work on a variety of Turner & Townsend projects and initiatives, supporting the team across healthcare, local government and central government to assess the impact of projects and programmes.

Key Accountabilities

We are seeking a highly motivated and flexible economist with strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with senior clients. The role will involve leading and delivering economic analysis for public sector commissions, including:

• Leading the development of economic analysis for public sector Business Cases in line with HM Treasury Green Book guidance, including welfare economics, Cost‑Benefit Analysis (CBA), Value‑for‑Money (VfM) assessment, and sector‑specific appraisal models.
• Producing high‑quality written reports, economic cases, and presentations for senior stakeholders and clients.
• Designing and developing economic models, tools, and analytical products to support future commissions.
• Providing expert advice, training, and guidance on economic principles and appraisal methods to non‑specialists.
• Leading and facilitating workshops on economic appraisal, options development, and Business Case preparation.
• Building and maintaining strong, professional relationships with clients, colleagues, and delivery partners.

Qualifications

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of HM Treasury Green Book, the Five Case Model, and UK Government investment appraisal methods.
• Demonstrable experience applying economic techniques such as CBA, economic impact assessment, forecasting, sensitivity analysis, and distributional analysis.
• Strong understanding of UK policy development and appraisal guidance across sectors, including social value frameworks and benefits assessment.
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement, lead analytical workstreams, and solve complex problems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate technical analysis into clear, policy‑relevant insights.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other analytical tools.

Desirable

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience with visual analytics tools (e.g., Power BI) or willingness to learn.
• Experience in benefits management, including benefits planning, mapping, realisation, and strategy development.
• Experience mentoring or supporting junior consultants.
• Familiarity with analytical software is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate Degree (or equivalent) in Economics (or other relevant degree) or two-years relevant industry experience and / or training.
• Masters in economics, Finance, Statistics or Mathematics (or related subjects) is beneficial (not required).
• Typically, 3–5 years of relevant experience in applied economic analysis, public sector appraisal, or consultancy.

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change. We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.