This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of a world-class infrastructure programme. High Speed 2 (HS2) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs.
The Wider Evidence Base team leads work within HS2 Ltd on the impact of HS2 on local, regional and national economies; and for maintaining the statistical and economic evidence base on the impact of the new high speed rail network. The team’s work programme is designed to further enhance the case for HS2, inform the design of the scheme, and improve HS2 Ltd’s understanding of how complementary policy measures can help to maximise the benefits of HS2.
The post-holder will be based in the Wider Evidence Base team, which sits in the Commercial Directorate within HS2 Ltd, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Transport. The Wider Evidence base team is multi-disciplinary with economists and statisticians. The team works closely with analysts, policy colleagues and technical experts in HS2 Ltd and the DfT, to provide robust evidence to support the HS2 Ltd Executive Committee and Board of Directors, the DfT High Speed Rail Board and Ministers.
This role is to deliver new sources of evidence on the regional and local impacts of HS2, to provide economic analysis to influence and inform decision making and to develop the evidence base on local visions and plans for HS2 as a catalyst for local growth and regeneration. This requires close working with Department for Transport and HS2 Ltd colleagues. The role is also outward facing and offers opportunities to engage with external stakeholders and experts in central and local government, academia and the private sector.
About You:
- Graduate or post-graduate degree in economics (or related subject) with experience of applying micro-economic principles to policy/investment decisions
- Excellent analytical skills are required to design and deliver a complex programme of analysis, and an ability to understand and distil complex arguments into key principles is essential.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence at all levels and defend results confidently under scrutiny. The ability to communicate complex economics concepts to colleagues from across a wide variety of professions will be key as will the ability to translate policy requirements into analytical specifications.
- Drive, determination and adaptability to take ownership of the analytical programme on sub-national impacts of HS2, setting challenging goals and driving forward multiple areas of work to deliver results.
About Us:
HS2 Ltd is a safety critical organisation with safety being one of our core values. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others’ health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to the HS2 ‘Safe at Heart’ programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times.
