Net Zero Strategy Analyst

Have you got experience creating high quality analysis and modelling?

Do you enjoy working with others to achieve common goals?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the strategy to accelerate the shift to greener transport and would love to hear from you!

Would you like to find out more about the role, and what it’s like to work at DfT? If so, we are organising a familiarisation session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on Thursday 28th March at 12:30pm.

Please click here to book on.

Reaching Net Zero is one of the biggest and most pressing challenges facing Governments across the world. In this role you will be at the heart of the Department’s strategy to accelerate the shift to greener transport, and drive more sustainable travel behaviours, to ensure that transport plays its part in meeting this challenge.

Transport is now the largest contributor to UK domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing 27% of domestic emissions in 2019. In recognition of the need to go further and faster, the Government published the UK’s first Transport Decarbonisation (TD) Plan in October 2021, which lays out a bold and ambitious programme of coordinated action to end the UK’s transport emissions by 2050. This was followed by the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan, which set out the policies we will be delivering and the associated emissions savings out to 2037. Government is now entering a period of preparation for setting the next carbon target covering 2038-2042 (Carbon Budget 7).

To deliver against these ambitions we are looking to recruit an SEO economist or operational researcher to provide analysis and modelling to support upcoming decisions on Carbon Budget 7, and to play a pivotal role in tracking our progress against already committed policies to decarbonise transport. This includes all forms of transport covered by the Department (Road, Rail, Maritime, Aviation and Active Travel).

You will be part of the Decarbonisation Analysis (DA) team – a high-performing and dynamic team of 12 analysts responsible for providing timely and robust analysis and specialist advice to the TD directorate in DfT. Among other high profile workstreams, our team delivered the analysis for the recently delivered Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate – the biggest carbon saving measure across the economy.

This is a wide and varied programme of work, and as a core member of both DA and TD you will have the opportunity to work with colleagues across the full range of policy areas. Your primary focus however will be on helping to develop the strategy and plans required to reduce transport carbon emissions for carbon budget 7 and ensure the Government is able to meet its ambitious targets and legal commitments.

You will work closely with the policy and analytical teams in TD and across the Department responsible for developing these plans and strategies for all forms of transport, and with colleagues across Whitehall including DESNZ, HMT and the Climate Change Committee.

Your key responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Taking the lead on workstreams within our Carbon Budget 7 preparation: This will include developing new evidence on potential policies and ensuring that our evidence base is up to date and that we have information on the costs and benefits of current and potential policies to ensure that we can achieve the levels of decarbonisation required and do so in a cost effective way.

Building the team’s modelling capabilities: Decarbonising transport is a complex problem with multiple interacting policy options. You will be responsible key modelling capabilities needed to assess strategies and ensure policies are deliverable and cost effective.

Coordinating strategic transport decarbonisation analysis: You will lead in coordinating and commissioning analysis from across the Department, working with colleagues to understand and analyse the effectiveness of different policies across DfT (covering a wide range of areas including rail, walking and cycling, public transport, aviation and shipping).

Wider analysis and advice on transport decarbonisation: You will support the wider transport decarbonisation agenda, by providing input and advice to Ministers, providing up-to-date analysis and modelling on emissions to teams across DfT, and leading engagement with key external stakeholders, including in DESNZ, the Climate Change Committee, and external experts.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Additional information

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.