Economist - Infrastructure and Planning

About the company

Rhelm is a specialist consulting company and 2026 Client Choice Award Winner offering Advisory, Environment & Planning, Community & Place, Infrastructure and Natural Hazards & Resilience services to clients in Australia and internationally. We are passionate about the environment, sustainable development, quality technical advice and planning for the future through informed decision-making.  More details are available at www.rhelm.com.au

About the role 

We are currently recruiting for multiple roles from mid-career to senior in our Advisory team discipline. The role will apply economic theory and practice in the context of state, national and international standards to support infrastructure and policy development. You will have the opportunity to be involved in projects across the transport, property, water, environment, education and health disciplines. You will undertake qualitative and quantitative analysis and independent research, including economic appraisal, impact assessment, financial modelling, and policy analysis. Your work will contribute directly to business cases, strategic advisory, and evaluation frameworks that inform major investment decisions.

You will manage or support projects from inception through to delivery, working closely with senior staff to deliver high-quality outputs within time and budget. Collaboration is central to the role, with regular engagement across multidisciplinary teams and with clients including government agencies, infrastructure providers and development partners.

At Rhelm, we value analytical rigour and clear communication. You will be expected to translate complex analysis into practical insights that support informed decision-making.

Skills

The successful candidate will:

1. Have an undergraduate degree in economics, commerce or finance or equivalent and at least 5 years work experience

2. Already have full Australian working rights

3. Proficient in cost benefit analysis and development of spreadsheet models

4. Have a keen interest and/or relevant experience in how economics can inform decision making and policy development

5. Have lateral thinking skills and be highly motivated

6. Be willing to learn and apply what you have learned already

7. Have ability to work independently and collaborate meaningfully in a team environment.

The following would be an advantage:

1. Experience with QGIS or ArcGIS and Python

2. Dual degree in related field (eg. engineeering, science, planning)

3. Experience in managing large datasets

4. Experience in project management

5. Strong written and verbal communication skills

Benefits and perks

1. Work alongside technical leaders in the industry.

2. Opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects.

3. Great mentoring and support in the development of your career.

4. A dynamic company with an opportunity to grow your career