Evaluation Specialist: Associate / Associate Director

Overview Steer Economic Development is seeking an evaluation specialist to join our team of high-performing economic development consultants. You will work on a range of different projects, for national, regional and local public sector clients, including process and impact evaluations, evaluation plans and evaluation scoping studies. Your skillset will include quantitative and qualitative research techniques, as well as familiarity with a range of evaluation techniques such theory-based methods and counterfactual design. Main Responsibilities and Accountabilities Leadership of Transport Evaluation Portfolio Provide strategic leadership for the consultancy’s transport evaluation portfolio, positioning Steer as a recognised leader in Monitoring and Evaluation for transport and mobility. Build on the Steer’s growing credentials in the sector, identifying opportunities to expand influence and impact with key clients. Leverage expertise across the wider organisation to deliver integrated, cross-cutting evaluation offers. Act as senior representative of the firm in the transport evaluation field, engaging with policy-makers, academics, and professional networks. Technical Leadership Lead the design and implementation of complex evaluations in the transport sector, ensuring methodological rigour and relevance. Provide technical direction on evaluation methodologies. Ensure evaluations integrate sector-specific dimensions such as modal shift, accessibility, safety, equity, climate and environmental impacts, and cost-benefit analysis. Act as a thought leader, producing and disseminating insights, learning products, and guidance on evaluation approaches in the transport domain. Client & Stakeholder Engagement Serve as senior advisor to clients including government departments and public sector bodies. Build and maintain trusted long-term relationships with senior stakeholders, providing evidence-based advice to inform strategic decisions in transport policy and programming. Represent Steer at conferences, industry panels, and thought-leadership events. Business Development & Growth Drive growth of the transport evaluation portfolio through successful leadership of bids and proposals. Identify and pursue new opportunities, cultivating partnerships and alliances that strengthen Steer’s market position. Contribute to Steer-wide strategic planning, helping shape the consultancy’s long-term vision for monitoring and evaluation. Team Leadership & Capacity Development Lead multidisciplinary project teams, ensuring delivery of high-quality outputs on time and within budget. Mentor and coach colleagues at all levels, building in-house expertise in monitoring and evaluation. Work with the senior team to promote a culture of technical excellence, innovation, and learning across the practice.