Principal Economist

Relay · London, Greater London · hybrid Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M) led by deep-tech investors Plural, and a recently closed Series B ($95M), Relay is scaling faster than 99% of venture-backed startups. As a Principal Economist at Relay, you'll own courier pricing and pay policy, applying economic theory to a live marketplace, modelling supply, demand and courier behaviour, and designing pricing and incentive mechanisms that hold up in the real network. Responsibilities: Own courier pricing and pay policy: how work is priced, how couriers are paid, and how incentives are set across our marketplaces. Apply economic theory to a live marketplace: model supply, demand and courier behaviour, and design pricing and incentive mechanisms that hold up in the real network. Measure what every pricing and pay change did, working with our Applied Scientists and experimenting across a live two-sided marketplace. Partner with Operational Research and Recommender Systems so price is set as part of the recommendation, not after it. Advise leadership on pricing and incentives, and help build Relay's research culture and voice in the tech community. Requirements: Have a PhD in economics, and have applied it in a tech marketplace such as ride-hailing, delivery or a gig platform. Have advised leadership on pricing or incentive decisions, and seen those decisions through to what happened next. Are deeply skilled in econometrics and causal inference, and know how to apply economic theory to a real marketplace, not just a model of one. Are hands-on: you write the code, run the analysis and build the models yourself. Explain economics clearly to operations, product and leadership, without the jargon. Who Thrives at Relay? Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we.