Description
Hours: 37 hours
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £57,999 - £62,879
Location: Sheffield (Hybrid Working or Onsite)
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and to serve the communities and businesses of South Yorkshire. From transport to housing, from business growth to skills, the MCA has a great story to tell. We have ambitions to deliver recovery and renewal for people, businesses and places across South Yorkshire.
Please note that SYMCA follows a structured salary grading system for all roles, and the offered salary for each post will be at the starting point within the specified grade. We value the skills and experience of potential candidates, and there will be opportunities for salary enhancements as you grow within South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Key Responsibilities

As Principal Economist – Transport, you’ll be the most senior economic advisor to SYMCA’s Transport Directorate, accountable for providing expert economic, analytical and modelling advice on policy proposals across multiple high-profile projects.

• Provide expert economic and analytical advice on transport policy proposals and strategies to Directors, Executive Team members and the Mayor of South Yorkshire.
• Scope and deliver an analytical work programme for Transport Directorate which ensures policy and delivery priorities are informed with economics and transport modelling.
• Lead the procurement of our new Transport model, ensuring it is fit for purpose.
• Lead on the production or commissioning of the economic dimension of business cases, applying Green Book principles to produce and scrutinise economic appraisal and cost-benefit analysis.
• Work with our data and intelligence team to identify, analyse and accurately interpret a range of data and insights in order to develop compelling and evidence-driven cases for change, and policy options which deliver co-benefits against cross-cutting priorities.

Contract with consultants and manage their delivery to time and quality, including ensuring robustness of analysis and its effective communication to a senior and non-technical audience. · Lead accountability for the development of SYMCA’s economics capability on transport.

• Manage and develop other analysts in the team.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
In this newly created role, we are searching for an experienced economics professional with a strong background in Green Book-compliant economic assessment and analytical approaches who is confident in understanding technical DFT-compliant transport modelling. Crucially, you will combine this technical expertise with experience engaging successfully with senior stakeholders so that the analytical work programme you lead is strategic and impactful. · An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in economics or equivalent transport qualification with a significant economics component, and strong experience in a relevant role. · Significant practical experience of applying economics concepts to policy issues in transport, including Green Book-compliant economic appraisal and cost-benefit analysis. · The ability to identify policy priorities and shape an analytical work programme accordingly, working with senior stakeholders. · Experience in commissioning and interpreting technical transport modelling and applying this to policy development. · Ability to make strategic links between economics, transport and outcomes for people. · Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly, and concisely explain sophisticated issues and complex analysis in non-technical language in a way that engages, informs and drives decision-making. · Experience building constructive working relationships and engaging with internal and external partners to deliver. · A track record of working at pace on concurrent projects, without sacrificing quality. · Experience working with and managing specialist consultants to secure quality outcomes. (desirable)
Experience building constructive working relationships and engaging with internal and external partners to deliver.
A track record of working at pace on concurrent projects, without sacrificing quality.
Experience working with and managing specialist consultants to secure quality outcomes. (desirable)

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Benefits
All colleagues have access to a local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success. In addition to the above, some of benefits include -
Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in additional to your normal annual leave
Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time.
Rewarding You - Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway!
Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on the job training and qualifications
Holiday – Up to 36 days annual leave (depending on length of service). Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority
Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
About South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and to serve the communities and businesses of South Yorkshire. From transport to housing, from business growth to skills, the SYMCA has a great story to tell. We have ambitions to deliver recovery and renewal for people, businesses and places across South Yorkshire.
In recent years significant funding has been secured through the Transforming Cities Fund and a devolution deal, and further funding has recently been secured through the region’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. As result we have a large and growing capital programme to deliver in support of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Mayor’s 2040 vision for transport. Join our workforce of talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions.
This is what a career at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is like, and this is where yours starts

As Principal Economist – Transport, you’ll be the most senior economic advisor to SYMCA’s Transport Directorate, accountable for providing expert economic, analytical and modelling advice on policy proposals across multiple high-profile projects.

• Provide expert economic and analytical advice on transport policy proposals and strategies to Directors, Executive Team members and the Mayor of South Yorkshire.
• Scope and deliver an analytical work programme for Transport Directorate which ensures policy and delivery priorities are informed with economics and transport modelling.
• Lead the procurement of our new Transport model, ensuring it is fit for purpose.
• Lead on the production or commissioning of the economic dimension of business cases, applying Green Book principles to produce and scrutinise economic appraisal and cost-benefit analysis.
• Work with our data and intelligence team to identify, analyse and accurately interpret a range of data and insights in order to develop compelling and evidence-driven cases for change, and policy options which deliver co-benefits against cross-cutting priorities