Principal Economist

Job summary

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is the independent economic and safety regulator for Britain’s railways and monitor of performance on England’s strategic road network. This is an exciting time to join ORR, we 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 our talented people. This will ensure we 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. Further detail on our future role is set outhere.

Job description

EFM provides rigorous economic analysis to underpin the development of policy & support decision-making.
We work on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy and regulatory
considerations. In the Rail Economics team, ORR employs a diverse group of talented economists working alongside industry
experts and policy makers. At ORR, your economic analysis can directly influence key decision making and
policy development. You will work on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy,
and regulatory matters. Your work at ORR will see you work closely with senior decision makers and build a
valuable skill set, combining technical, commercial, and delivery experience.

We are a diverse team of talented economists working alongside industry experts and policy makers. As part of
our team, your economic analysis can directly influence decision making and the development of key policies
in UK rail regulation.

It's an exciting time to join the team as 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. You can read more about the government’s plans for the rail
industry in its consultation document.

We work on complex economic problems that combine commercial, public policy, and regulatory matters. You
will support our team’s work on the charges train operators pay to access the rail network, and the financial
incentive payments made by the industry which help to drive better performance on the rail network, as ORR’s
role in this area transitions to that specified in the government’s rail reform consultation.

We also work with teams across ORR on the economic impact of potential changes to track, station or depot
access for trains, including on the impact that operating new train services could have on existing markets. Your
work will help to build a unique skill set which combines commercial expertise with public policy experience.
As a senior manager in our team, you are expected to be a role model for other members of the team and to
positively demonstrate ORR’s values. You are expected to take initiative in your role and maintain a strong
sense of accountability for your own work.

In joining ORR you will benefit from flexible working patterns that support your personal commitments while
developing a challenging career. We are committed to personal development and you will be offered attractive
training opportunities to help develop your economic and professional skills.

Person specification

Additional Information

At ORR, our hybrid working means that we currently work from our workplace location a minimum of 40% of our working week, although requirements to attend other offsite locations for official business, also count towards this level of attendance. Working arrangements are subject to continuous review.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Application of knowledge: a good understanding of, and ability to apply,economic and financial principles to policy issues, such as in economicregulation, competition policy, transport or other infrastructure sectors
• Effective communication: building relationships, communicating totechnical & non-technical audiences, conveying analysis to key stakeholders

Benefits

A Civil Service Pension with employer contribution of 28.97%

Details of our employee benefits can be found in the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Find out what our colleagues have to say about their ORR careers Our people Office of Rail and Road (orr.gov.uk).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.For information on the selection process, please see the attached Candidate Information Pack and Job Description.

We have partnered with Michael Page to recruit for this role. To apply, please visit Principal Economist - JN-072026-7063024 , Michael Page. To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact Kas Rothwell at [email removed] or [phone removed] quoting job reference JN-072026-7063024.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020