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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Degree in social science subject or equivalent experience in a related discipline.

• 10+ years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation, with significant focus on transport and infrastructure programmes.
• Proven track record of leading the design and delivery of large, complex transport evaluations at the regional and national level covering net zero, innovation, infrastructure, or devolved funding.
• Demonstrated expertise across a range of evaluation methodologies, including theory‑based, experimental, and mixed‑methods approaches.
• Experience in integrating sector‑specific issues into evaluations, such as climate impacts, accessibility, safety, behaviour change, and equity.
• Strong portfolio of work with governments or other public sector organisations in the transport space.
• Evidence of thought leadership (publications, conference presentations, advisory roles).
• Experience winning and managing high‑value contracts, and growing sector portfolios.

• Recognised technical authority in evaluation methods and application to transport.
• Strategic leadership skills with ability to build and grow a portfolio area.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills at senior levels.
• Strong project and people management abilities, including mentoring and developing teams.
• Exceptional written and oral communication…