The Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies is hiring a Junior Transport Economist in Brussels, with applications closing on 27 September 2026 and reviewed on a rolling basis. At Youth Works Hub, we read the vacancy in full so you can see how technical the role really is before you spend an evening on the cover letter.
The description calls the position the analytical engine of the department, and the task list backs that up: this is econometrics used as advocacy evidence, not a policy assistant role with a spreadsheet attached.
The Association You Would Join
CER brings together railway undertakings, their national associations, infrastructure managers and vehicle leasing companies.
🚆 Its membership covers the large majority of the rail infrastructure network, rail freight business and rail passenger operations in the EU, EFTA and EU accession countries.
🏛️ The membership mixes long established bodies with new entrants, and private with public enterprises.
🗣️ Its mission is to represent members' interests towards EU policy makers and transport stakeholders, advocating rail as the backbone of a resilient, competitive and sustainable European transport system.
Where the Role Sits
You would report to the Head of the Economics Unit. The position bridges technical microeconomic analysis with macroeconomic trends, producing the quantitative evidence behind the association's advocacy. The vacancy stresses that the work is highly collaborative, because your outputs become the foundation other colleagues build on.
The Five Responsibilities
📈 Analytical advocacy: delivering robust economic analysis and quantitative evidence for policy papers and consultation responses, and turning complex datasets into clear facts and figures on rail competitiveness, infrastructure investment and the wider economic value of rail.
🔍 Regulatory scrutiny: critically reviewing European Commission Impact Assessments, assessing their methodologies and economic assumptions, and identifying the costs, benefits and implications of legislative proposals for the rail sector.
🧮 Strategic support: contributing economic analysis and modelling to studies and priority files, including rail freight, high speed rail and public procurement.
📉 Applied econometrics: analysing transport, trade, energy and infrastructure data to assess and forecast the sectoral impacts of EU policies on rail competitiveness.
📝 Collaborative reporting: producing concise analytical notes, presentations and technical contributions for policy audiences, and supporting consistent approaches to impact assessment and cost benefit analysis across the team's files.
What You Need
🎓 A master's degree in economics with a specialisation in market and policy analysis or applied microeconomics, with strong quantitative and econometrics skills.
🕐 One to three years of experience in economic research, impact assessment and business analysis, including the ability to analyse companies' publicly available profit and loss accounts, ideally in transport, infrastructure or energy.
🛠️ Proficiency in Excel and at least one statistical package, such as Stata, R or Python, for quantitative analysis, modelling or forecasting.
🤝 A proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary, international environment with policy colleagues and sector experts.
🗣️ Full professional proficiency in English, with the ability to turn complex economic analysis into clear, persuasive messages for non technical policy audiences.
Terms
🏢 The position is full time and based in Brussels.
💶 Terms and conditions are described as competitive, depending on the candidate's experience and qualifications. No figure is published.
🌍 The vacancy offers a multicultural, dynamic and professionally enriching working environment.
According to Youth Works Hub's review of this vacancy, the one to three year experience band combined with a master's and econometrics tooling puts this squarely in the first real job category rather than the graduate entry one, and the profit and loss analysis requirement is the line that filters most applicants.
How to Apply
Applications go by email with a cover letter and a CV in English, and the vacancy is specific about the file name format it wants. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and treated in confidence, and only shortlisted candidates are contacted for an in person or online interview. Because the review is rolling, sending early matters more than polishing until the deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of experience is expected?
One to three years in economic research, impact assessment or business analysis, on top of a master's degree in economics.
Which software do I need?
Excel plus at least one statistical package, with Stata, R and Python named as examples.
Is the role in Brussels only?
Yes. The vacancy states it is a full time position based in Brussels.
Is a salary published?
No. Terms and conditions are described as competitive depending on experience and qualifications.
What is the selection process?
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates are contacted for an interview, either in person or online.
What would I actually analyse?
Transport, trade, energy and infrastructure data, plus European Commission Impact Assessments and companies' published profit and loss accounts.
Deadline
⏳ 27 September 2026
The closing date is firm but the review is rolling, so an application sent a week early has a better chance than a perfect one sent on the last day. Find more opportunities like this, explained in plain language, on Youth Works Hub.
Link
🔗 Applications, cover letter and CV in English: jobs@cer.be
