Ipsos
Evaluation / Economist - Associate Director

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Description
Evaluation Associate Director – Economy & Environment – Public Affairs
Make Your Mark at Ipsos
Ipsos UK Public Affairs are leaders in social research and evaluation.
We are looking for an Associate Director to join our highly successful Policy and Evaluation Unit. The team is multi-disciplinary of economists and evaluation specialists who work across all areas of public policy.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded Evaluator with a good understanding of economic policy, including market barriers and challenges and why Government might intervene (strategic case assessments).
The role will suit someone with a passion for policy themes including innovation, regional economic development, industrial and infrastructure policy, business and competition.
What is in it for you?
Work on an expanding portfolio of complex evaluations of high-profile energy and civil infrastructure projects and industrial policies. Opportunity to support the growth of this portfolio by leading evaluations of major interventions aimed at tackling the challenges of achieving net zero, energy security, and addressing the UK’s stagnating productivity growth. Chance to enhance and grow your commercial skills Work on a range of complex central government contracts Lead the delivery of complex evaluation projects, ensuring alignment across teams, effective client engagement, and strong commercial management throughout the project lifecycle.
About The Role
As an Evaluation specialist, you will take leadership on evaluation projects falling within our economy and environment policy division. You will be supporting an established team of evaluators and policy specialists and will be confident applying quantitative impact evaluation methods and theory-based approaches to complex evaluation problems.
The Main Responsibilities Of The Role Are
Managing and directing evaluations through the full project cycle from design to data collection and analysis, through to developing conclusions and recommendations. Drafting engaging and persuasive publishable outputs. Presenting the findings from evaluation to clients, key stakeholders and other audiences. Taking editorial leadership and design oversight on successful evaluation proposals and pitches (£500,000 - £750,000 in gross value terms) with support from our senior directors. Collaborating with colleagues across our Public Affairs division, as well as external partners. Providing specialist expertise in a policy or methodological area. Contributing to the development of evaluation skills across our Public Affairs division. Working alongside the Senior Management Team in the strategic and operational management of the Policy and Evaluation Unit. Supporting senior staff in the team to manage the well-being and job satisfaction of junior team members.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
This role will suit candidates who enjoy working closely with clients in a fast-paced environment. We are looking for someone with:
A passion for policy themes including innovation, regional economic development, industrial and infrastructure policy, business and competition. A commercial mindset in delivering research and evaluation, and a thirst for growing a business. A masters degree or higher-level qualification in economics or related discipline. Good knowledge and experience of both quantitative and qualitative (i.e. mixed-method) approaches Proven ability to manage and deliver projects to timescale and budgets with limited director supervision Proven ability to lead winning evaluation proposals Confident and clear written and verbal communication skills
In Addition, The Candidate Would Ideally Have
Proven skills in the application of econometric methods to complex programme evaluation problems. Expertise in cost-benefit analysis and the application of HMT Green Book.
Benefits
We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range of health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.
We realise you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications - please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application. We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success - a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
About Us
Ipsos is one of the world’s largest research companies and currently the only one primarily managed by researchers, ranking as a #1 full-service research organization for four consecutive years. With over 75 different data-driven solutions, and presence in 90 markets, Ipsos brings together research, implementation, methodological, and subject-matter experts from around the world, combining thematic and technical experts to deliver top-quality research and insights. Simply speaking, we help the biggest companies solve some of their biggest problems, serving more than 5000 clients across the globe by providing research, data, and insights on their target markets. And we are proud of our continuous efforts in making Ipsos the best place to work!
About The Team
The Public Affairs Service Line is the world leader in Social and Opinion Research.We work with clients on political and public opinion polling, citizen and stakeholder management, social policy improvement, sustainable development strategy and identifying societal trends and perceptions across several sectors.We assess how government and public affairs policies as well as societal trends and views impact our client’s brand/products/markets.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location