Senior Principal (Transport)

Frontier Economics is an economics consultancy that tackles the big questions facing governments, businesses and society. We help our clients to analyse and understand their markets and to formulate strategies based on sound economics. The methods and models we use are often complex, but our advice is always succinct, clear and honest.

The company has grown rapidly since it was founded over 25 years ago and currently has around 500 staff working across nine European offices (Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Dublin, London, Madrid, Paris and Prague). The company is employee-owned and has a strong culture of openness and employee engagement.

Shape the Future of Transport

We are looking for an experienced transport economist to join our growing practice as a Senior Principal.

Transport sits at the centre of some of the most important economic, regulatory and policy challenges facing society today. Governments, regulators, operators and investors are making major decisions about infrastructure investment, decarbonisation, affordability, connectivity and the future structure of transport markets.

Frontier Economics' Transport Practice helps clients navigate these challenges through rigorous applied economics, strategic insight and evidence-based advice. We work with leading organisations across rail, aviation, roads, ports, public transport, logistics and emerging mobility, helping them tackle complex questions around regulation, competition, market design, infrastructure investment, transport appraisal and public policy.

Our work influences major decisions across the UK and internationally. As an employee-owned firm, we take a long-term view of our clients, our people and our impact. We combine deep sector expertise with a collaborative culture, giving our economists the opportunity to work on issues that genuinely shape the future of transport.

The Role

As a Senior Principal, you will play a leading role in the growth and success of Frontier's Transport Practice. You will combine intellectual leadership, client engagement and business development with responsibility for delivering high-quality economic advice on some of the sector's most challenging and high-profile issues.

You will lead complex projects, build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and contribute to the strategic direction of both the practice and the wider firm. You will also help develop Frontier's next generation of economists through mentoring, coaching and leadership.

This is an opportunity for an established transport economics leader to have a significant impact on clients, colleagues and the future direction of the practice.

What You'll Do:

Lead High-Impact Transport Economics Projects

• Lead and oversee complex transport economics and advisory engagements from project design through to delivery.
• Provide intellectual leadership on issues including economic regulation, competition, infrastructure investment, market design, transport policy, appraisal and decarbonisation.
• Shape analytical approaches and ensure outputs are robust, insightful and capable of withstanding scrutiny.
• Oversee quality across multiple projects and support the development of best practice within the team.

Build Trusted Client Relationships

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across government, regulators, transport operators, infrastructure owners and investors.
• Act as a trusted adviser to clients, helping them navigate strategic, regulatory and commercial challenges.
• Identify opportunities to deepen existing relationships and create new opportunities for Frontier to support clients.

Grow the Practice

• Lead business development activity, including proposals, bids and strategic client engagement.
• Develop new opportunities and contribute to the continued growth of Frontier's Transport Practice.
• Represent Frontier externally through thought leadership, industry engagement, conferences and publications.

Develop People and Capability

• Lead and mentor colleagues across the practice.
• Support career development through coaching, feedback and role modelling.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Help build Frontier's long-term transport economics capability and reputation.

About You

• You are an experienced transport economist with a strong track record of applying economics to real-world policy, regulatory and commercial challenges.
• You combine deep technical expertise with strong consulting skills and commercial awareness.
• You are comfortable engaging with senior clients, leading complex projects and helping organisations make important decisions.
• You are also motivated by developing others and contributing to the growth of a leading economics consultancy.
• You may currently be a Senior Principal, Director, Associate Director, Partner or equivalent in an economics consultancy, specialist advisory firm, transport organisation, regulator or government department.

Essential Requirements

• Degree-level qualification in Economics or a closely related discipline.
• Extensive experience, typically gained over 12 or more years, within economic consulting, transport advisory, government, regulation or related environments.
• Deep expertise in transport economics and applied economic analysis.
• Significant experience advising transport sector clients on complex economic, regulatory or commercial issues.
• Strong understanding of one or more areas including economic regulation, transport appraisal, competition economics, market design, infrastructure investment, funding, demand analysis or decarbonisation.
• Experience working across one or more transport sectors, including rail, aviation, roads, ports, public transport, logistics or mobility.
• Proven ability to lead large and complex projects and deliver high-quality client outcomes.
• Strong client relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrable business development and work-winning experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex economic concepts clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability, with a commitment to developing colleagues and fostering an inclusive culture.

Why Frontier?

At Frontier, you'll work alongside some of the leading economists in the profession, advising clients on issues that matter. You'll have the opportunity to shape major transport decisions, contribute to influential public policy debates and help grow a market-leading Transport Practice.

As an employee-owned business, we are committed to long-term thinking, high-quality work and investing in our people. We value intellectual curiosity, collaboration and the application of economics to solve complex real-world problems.

If you are passionate about transport economics and want to play a leading role in shaping the future of the sector, we'd love to hear from you.

We also offer:

• Hybrid Working: Employees are expected to work in the office at least two days a week, with flexibility for remote work.

• Holiday Entitlement: 28 days of annual leave, plus public holidays, with the option to purchase up to 10 additional days of holiday per year.

• Parental Pay: Enhanced pay of 26 weeks full pay for primary carers and 10 weeks full pay for partners.

• Learning & Development: Extensive L&D opportunities, including Career Development Reviews with support from a dedicated Mentor.

• Private Health Insurance: Bupa health insurance with optional family coverage (taxes paid by the employees and add on for partners & children at an additional cost). Additional cover (e.g., optical, dental) can be added at the employee's expense.

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – Free, confidential support for work-life balance, health, family issues, or job-related challenges, available for you and your immediate family members.

• Income Protection Insurance – All employees are covered by Frontier’s Group Income Protection Scheme for long-term illness or disability.

• Life Insurance – Company-funded Group Life Assurance Scheme, covering all permanent employees from their start date.

• Cross-Office Travel & Secondments – Opportunities for secondments to different offices or practices to expand skills and experience.

Should you have any questions or would like any additional information please email recruitment@frontier-economics.com. We are looking forward to receiving your application.

Frontier Economics is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, age, or any other status protected by law. We are determined that everyone has an equal chance to join us and progress their career with Frontier. We care about creating an inclusive atmosphere and are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all its forms. Read more about our incentives here.