Chief Economist

Are you a top analytical leader capable of transforming strong evidence into improved decisions about the UK’s infrastructure? This is a prominent role leading economics and analysis at the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA). You will shape infrastructure strategy, investment, and system reform within the core of government.

About NISTA

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority serves as the government’s hub of infrastructure knowledge. It combines the policy and strategy insight of the National Infrastructure Commission with the delivery expertise of the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

NISTA leads all aspects of the Government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy. It identifies infrastructure needs and coordinates them, helps clear barriers to delivery, strengthens project delivery capability, provides assurance for priority projects, and guides expertise on private finance.

About the team

The Strategy and System Change Directorate represents NISTA’s authority on long-term infrastructure needs and planning. The Chief Economist sits on NISTA’s Senior Leadership Team and manages a key team of about 11 economists and operational researchers. They collaborate closely with data scientists, spatial analysts, policy experts, and delivery staff.

The team offers high-quality evidence and analysis supporting the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, Spending Reviews and Budgets, as well as recommendations on wider system, programme and project topics. The team engages closely with NISTA, HM Treasury and infrastructure-related government departments.

Regarding the role

Reporting to the Director of Strategy and System Change, you will lead the intellectual and analytical aspects of NISTA’s work on infrastructure strategy, system reform, and future infrastructure needs. You will provide Ministers and senior leaders with the evidence, tools, and analysis required to improve decisions about the UK’s infrastructure portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight for NISTA and HM Treasury’s analytical resources, guiding economics, analysis, and evidence to advance NISTA’s objectives alongside the Government’s 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy.
• Lead major cross-government analytical studies and strategic projects, translating complex evidence into clear, actionable recommendations.
• Develop NISTA’s analytical, data and digital strategy, embedding effective use of evidence and analytical methods in decision-making and delivery.
• Deliver trusted recommendations to Ministers and senior leaders regarding key infrastructure, investment, and reform choices.
• Champion analytical excellence, quality assurance, innovation and professional development across NISTA.
• Build strategic relationships across government, academia, regulators and industry, strengthening NISTA’s reputation as a centre of analytical excellence.
• Lead and develop a high-performing multidisciplinary team, crafting an inclusive environment in which colleagues can thrive and deliver impact.

About you

You will be an influential and credible analytical leader, able to operate confidently at the most senior levels and connect high-quality evidence with policy, strategy and delivery. You will demonstrate:

• Strategic leadership: A strong track record of leading analytical, economic, research or evidence functions and using insight to build strategy, policy or major investment decisions.
• People leadership: Proven experience of leading large, multidisciplinary teams and crafting an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Influence and communication: Evidence of influencing Ministers, Boards or other senior decision-makers through clear, compelling communication and good judgement.
• Delivery and partnerships: Proven experience in leading major programmes or strategic efforts with notable organisational or policy outcomes, while establishing strong partnerships across organisational boundaries.

Our Benefits:

• Annual leave starts at 25 days and rises to 30 after 5 years. You also receive 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday off, unless you have a legacy Civil Service arrangement. Flextime allows employees to take up to 2 additional days off monthly.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension plan with employer contributions amounting to 28.97%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket loans
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity

For additional details about the position and the application process, please follow the apply link.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to join the selection process, please mention this in your online application form. You can also contact the recruitment team.