Economics Consultant

Location/s: London, UK
Recruiter contact: Andrea Gaffney

Mott MacDonald is a global engineering, management, and development consultancy with over 20,000 employees across more than 50 countries and 140+ offices. 

We work across incredible global industries, delivering exciting work that is defining our future and making an important societal impact in the communities we serve. Our people power our performance – we succeed when they do. With countless opportunities to collaborate, learn, and grow, the possibilities for excellence are as varied as every individual. 

Whether you want to grow as a subject matter expert or broaden your experience with roles across our international community, you’re surrounded by global specialists who want to combine their expertise and champion you to be your best. As a proudly employee-owned business, we benefit our clients, our communities, and each other, investing in creating the right space for everyone to feel empowered, included, and valued. Whatever your ambition, Mott MacDonald is where people come to be brilliant.

About the business unit  
The Buildings Unit (BLD) has a major presence in Mott MacDonald's regional offices throughout the UK and mainland Europe, providing a wide range of diverse and transferable cross-sector skills across five key Sectors; Advisory, Built Environment, Energy, Transportation and Water. We also provide local services to customers and technical leadership to the rest of the Group in these sectors.   

Overview of the role

This role sits within Mott MacDonald’s Cities Studio team. Cities Studio brings together economists, planners, and urban designers to deliver integrated urban development solutions that help communities and businesses thrive. Based in London, we work on high-profile projects across the UK and internationally, covering: 

• Economic development strategy and policy
• Town centre and urban regeneration
• Transport hubs and transit-oriented development
• Mixed-use neighbourhoods and urban quarters
• ‘Campus-style’ developments for healthcare, education, and industry 

Place Economists are an integral part of Cities Studio. They provide public and private sector clients with business cases, economic development strategies, funding and financing delivery advice, and economic impact assessment across the UK and internationally to support a range of urban development schemes.

This role is being created to support the continued development and growth of Cities Studio.

This role will report to Project Managers for day-to-day work. You will play an important role in delivering the technical skills, report writing, and presentations and engagement with clients. Over time, you will continue to refine your technical skills and also develop your skills in project and client relationship management.

Significant career development opportunities will be available including involvement in a diverse portfolio of project work such as development of analytical and delivery-focused skills. There will be opportunities to progress to more senior economist and team leadership roles over time, offering greater levels of responsibility.

Due to increased business, we are looking to recruit Place Economics Consultants. You will work on a wide range of projects in many sectors, preparing economic strategy and policy advice, business case advice, economic and socioeconomic impact assessments and undertaking evidence reviews, data analysis, stakeholder interviews, and engagement. You will develop both qualitative and quantitative research tools as well as further developing our existing models.

Key responsibilities and duties include:

• Support place-based strategy work with masterplanning, urban design and town planning colleagues
• Develop evidence-based research to support strategies and regeneration and development programmes
• Develop economic and financial appraisals, including undertaking data analysis and baselines
• Contribute to the delivery of a broad range of built environment-related Five-Case Business Cases and related feasibility studies and impact assessments
• Aid in the delivery of economic development advice, both verbally and via reports to clients
• Collaborate with the team on the preparation and delivery of technical and narrative-led reports, action plans, and presentations

Candidate specification

You have both a personal and professional interest in socio-economics and urban development. You are enthusiastic to work in a collaborative team environment on behalf of a range of public and private sector clients. You’ve previously worked in similar roles, most likely within a multi-disciplinary or specialist place economics consultancy, or the public sector. Throughout your career, you have had the opportunity to work on projects in the fields of economic development, regeneration, transit-oriented development, placemaking or similar fields. 

An ideal candidate would both be able to work as a part of a team and work independently, as required. Our team works in offices across the country, so you should be comfortable in a hybrid (in-person and virtual) working environment. You should be analytical and approach projects with creative solutions.

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Bachelors Degree in Economics, Economic Development, Finance, Geography, Social Science, Urban Planning, or related field (Masters degree desirable)
• Experience working in similar roles, most likely within a multi-disciplinary or specialist place economics consultancy, or the public sector
• Project experience in the fields of fields of economic development, regeneration, transit-oriented development, placemaking or similar fields
• Familiarity with HM Treasury Green Book and Five-Case Business Cases (BBC Practitioner desirable)
• A strong personal and professional interest in socio-economics and urban development
• Interest and experience in economic strategy, policy, business cases, and appraisal
• Strong analytical skills
• Knowledge of land use economics and property development desirable

We have a collegiate and collaborative culture which values equality and diversity, and we take proactive steps to create an inclusive workplace. Together, we are opening opportunities with connected thinking. 

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UK Immigration

Mott MacDonald Ltd. are not currently offering sponsorship to candidates under the Skilled Worker visa route in the UK. This decision is as a consequence of the changes made to the Skilled Worker route by the UK Government in April 2024. We continue to welcome applications from candidates who are eligible for alternative immigration routes in the UK, that do not require sponsorship as a Skilled Worker now or in future.

Agile working  

At Mott MacDonald, we believe it makes business sense for you and your manager to choose how you can work most effectively to meet your client, team, and personal commitments. We offer a hybrid working policy that embraces your well-being, flexibility, and trust.

Equality, diversity, and inclusion 

We put equality, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of our business, seeking to promote fair employment procedures and practices to ensure equal opportunities for all. We encourage individual expression in our workplace and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can contribute.

Accessibility

We want you to perform your best at every stage in the recruitment process. If you are disabled or need any support to enable you to apply or attend an interview, please contact us at reasonable.adjustments@mottmac.com and we will talk to you about how we can support you.

We offer some fantastic benefits including:

Financial wellbeing

• We match employee pension contributions between 4.5% and 7%.
• Life assurance equal up to 4 x your basic salary, with an option to increase the level of cover to 6 x your salary.
• Our income protection scheme provides a financial benefit, as well as absence and return to work support due to long-term illness or injury.
• Flexible benefits, including increased life assurance cover, critical illness insurance, payroll saving and will writing.
• As an independently owned business we share the financial success of the business with all our colleagues in various ways including annual bonus schemes.

Employee Ownership

• Our employee ownership model means no external investors, just us, creating a culture of shared success.
• Our employees have a stake and a voice in our business, giving them a direct connection to our success through our personal and group performance bonuses.
• As your career grows, so does your stake, recognising your long-term impact and contribution.
• Your voice matters, with the opportunity to connect directly with senior leadership through formal channels to help shape our future.
• For our senior roles you will have a direct pathway towards ownership from day one.

Health and wellbeing

• Private medical insurance for all UK colleagues.
• Health cash plan to support you with every day health costs and treatments.
• Access to Peppy, providing free support from menopause experts for all UK colleagues.
• A variety of wellbeing support is available through our comprehensive wellbeing program, including access for you and your family.
• Ability to flex your salary to opt into a wide range of health benefits, many of which can be extended to your family too.

Lifestyle

• A minimum of 33-35 days holiday each year, inclusive of public holidays and dependent on level, with the ability to buy or sell leave through our flexible benefits programme.
• Holiday entitlement increased to a minimum of 35 days after 5 years’ service.
• Variety of employee saving schemes and discounts from high-street retailers.

 Enhanced family and carers leave

• Enhanced family leave policies, including 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave, and two weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Our shared parental leave matches maternity leave meaning we pay up to 24 weeks at full pay.
• Up to five additional days leave are provided for those with significant caring responsibilities, two of which are paid.

Learning and development

• Primary annual professional institution subscription.
• A broad range of opportunities to enhance both technical and soft skills through mentoring, formal training, and self-development options.

Networks, communities, and social outcomes

• Join a wide range of groups including our Advanced Employee Networks which support our LGBTQ+, gender, race and ethnicity, disability, and parents/carers communities.
• Make a difference within our communities through our social outcomes.

Apply now, or for more information about our application process, click here.