Lead Economist - 9 months Maternity Cover

Future Cities Catapult
London - United Kingdom
S: £50,000 to £60,000

This role is 6 months full - time and 3 months part-time

Who are we?

We're the Future Cities Catapult, a global centre of excellence on urban innovation.
We bring cities, businesses and universities together to ask: how can our cities take a more joined-up approach to the way they plan and operate?
We enable UK-based start-ups, SMEs and larger firms to develop transformational products and services, through making projects happen, identifying prototypes, and connecting innovators to opportunities. We draw-out and help apply cutting-edge research from academia and other research centres. And we also help shape the market for innovations, through supporting testing, providing evidence and enabling financing.

So what is it all about?

We are seeking an economist to help us measure the economic impact of the solutions we develop for cities. This an exciting and unique opportunity to develop the world's first database of economic impacts of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the urban environment.

What will you be doing?

These will be your main responsibilities:

- Implement and lead the Catapult's methods for Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) to create a database of the economic impacts of ICT in the urban environment
- Provide the economic analysis that helps to promote the Future Cities Catapult globally through relevant analytical insights, identifying and communicating relevant macro themes that have a bearing on the strategic direction of the organisation and help to manage critical areas of risk.
- Manage our economic research programme so that our strategic planning is based on sound analysis at best value
- In collaboration with wider digital strategy and economics team, identify projects suitable for developing the Catapult's economic evidence for proving the business case for cities, SMEs and other stakeholders in the future cities market
- Work with the Catapult's interdisciplinary teams to identify the economic measures required for different projects, where appropriate
- Work with policy teams to provide relevant economic insight where required
- Where necessary, collaborate with our commercial partners to educate them about our methods
- Write and deliver economic analysis reports together with the rest of the digital strategy and economics team


What will the 9 months' outcome be?

Outcomes are what you need to accomplish in your role. It is always useful to know these before you start. These are not all the outcomes you will be expected to achieve, but some of the primary ones:

- Build and develop a database of economic impacts of ICT in the urban environment;
- Use the database to illustrate how to create business cases for these types of urban technologies;
- Write 1 white paper on the economics of smart cities and the industries within them;
- Participate in at least one Catapult project providing economic input;
- Identify further appropriate test beds to expand the database of economic impacts of ICT in the urban environment.


What kind of person are we looking for?

Essential requirements:

- Minimum of an MA in Economics, with a strong capability in quantitative analytical methods
- Minimum of four - five years of experience in a quantitative or analytical role, such as research analyst or similar
- Experience and understanding of measuring direct, indirect, induced and dynamic economic effect
- Experience of applying frameworks for measuring economic impact currently in use by UK government and industry in at least one sector related to Future Cities arena.
- Adept at synthesising a wide range and volume of information, both qualitative and quantitate, into concise reports and actionable decisions
- Familiarity with the ICT industry and start-ups is desirable, as is knowledge of urban planning or environment
- Exceptional analytical skills, attention to detail and report writing ability
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
- Good at managing relations with colleagues and stakeholders, being persuasive, approachable and able to engage across all levels of the organisation
- Ability to manage ambiguity in projects and to identify when existing methods do not work.
- Ability to excel in a rapidly growing, fast-paced organisational setting

Job summary