Head of Economic Development

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council; Barnsley; Hybrid; GBP 88,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid working

Excellent pension scheme

Personal and professional growth

Make a lasting impact

Job summary

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking a visionary Head of Economic Development to lead the borough’s ambitious economic regeneration agenda. This role drives major investment, regeneration and innovation programmes across the Place directorate.

You will shape strategy for The Seam Digital Campus, Tech Town status, and key projects, while delivering growth and jobs across Barnsley. Hybrid working arrangements apply, with a focus on delivering impact for communities.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in economic development, regeneration and management.
• Strong financial and performance management capabilities.
• Experience working within a political environment.
• Deep knowledge of legislation and sector challenges.
• Inspirational leadership and strategic decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery and evolution of Barnsley’s economic development strategies.
• Collaborate across services to deliver projects and create thriving neighbourhoods.
• Secure external funding and develop creative financing models.
• Manage complex capital, revenue, and external budgets with precision.
• Grow Barnsley’s economy and create a fairer, stronger borough.
• Work closely with SYMCA to aid delivery of regional priorities.

Skills

Extensive experience

Financial & performance management

Political environment experience

Legislation knowledge

Strategic leadership

Job description

Head of Economic Development | £87,844- £96,387

Head of Economic Development

Directorate: Place

Working Arrangements : Agile Working

Contract type: Permanent(we are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch .

Barnsley is a place of possibilities, ambition and community.

At Barnsley Council, we're proud to serve our communities and shape the future of our borough. We're driving sustainable growth, creating opportunities for residents and businesses, supporting healthier and stronger communities, and delivering services that make a real difference to people's lives.

If you share our ambition to build a better Barnsley for everyone, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for an exceptional leader to take the helm of our Economic Regeneration service. This is a high-impact role where your vision, leadership, and innovation will directly influence the borough’s landscape which is at the heart of our place transformation agenda.

Help shape Barnsley’s next chapter with this rare opportunity as our new Head of Economic Development.

You’ll be at the forefront of transforming Barnsley’s resurgent economy, leading our ambitious portfolio of investment, regeneration and innovation programmes.

From delivering the next phase of The Seam Digital Campus and building on the success of our nationally recognised Tech Town status, to shaping the future of Barnsley town centre and unlocking new opportunities through The Glass Works, this is a role with real impact.

You’ll help bring the Dearne 2040 Vision and Masterplan to life, drive investment into strategic employment and housing sites including Junctions 36 and 37, MU1 and ES10, and work with partners, investors and government to create jobs, attract businesses and accelerate growth across the borough.

If you're an ambitious leader who thrives on delivering major projects, influencing at the highest levels and turning bold visions into reality, this is your opportunity to influence the future of Barnsley for generations to come.

What we offer

As a double award-winning Council of the Year we have an excellent reputation nationally, and we’re putting our borough on the map as a place of possibilities for people to live, work and visit.

Join us and we'll offer you:

• a competitive salary and generous annual leave
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• excellent pension scheme and salary sacrifice options (eg cycle to work, home technology)
• opportunities for personal and professional growth
• the chance to make a lasting impact on Barnsley’s communities

Our council is a community, a place where you can grow, where you can make a real difference to people, and contribute to all the great work we do across the borough.

As Head of Economic Development, you’ll:

• lead the delivery and evolution of Barnsley’s economic development strategies
• collaborate within and across services to deliver projects and create sustainable, thriving neighbourhoods
• secure external funding and develop creative financing models
• manage complex capital, revenue, and external budgets with precision
• work to grow Barnsley’s economy and create a fairer, stronger borough
• work closely with SYMCA to aid delivery of regional priorities

You’ll also oversee:

• Business support: Support companies through Enterprising Barnsley, the business support service for BMBC
• Capital projects: Lead on the delivery of regeneration projects including Principal Towns, Seam Digital Campus, and Health on the High Street.
• Programme and place management, including district markets, street trading, and support Barnsley Towns Board.
• Digital and tech: Improve digital connectivity across South Yorkshire, including South Yorkshire Digital Infrastructure Team, Tech SY, and delivery of the Tech Town initiative.
• Economic policy: Custodians for the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy and support the Inclusive Economy Board

Priorities for the role

• Deliver the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy missions and ambitions (IEGS)
• Support the Council's corporate priorities, in particular to deliver the Health on the High Street, Barnsley Towns Board and Principal Town programmes
• Deliver the council's Tech Towns ambitions
• Deliver an efficient and effective service that continues to attract external funding and ensure minimal reliance on base budget.

Economic development: key projects

• Tech Town: Continued to build on its status as the UK's first Tech Town, attracting national attention for its digital ambitions and innovation-led growth model alongside key partners and stakeholders.
• NCDT: Progressed plans for the National Centre for Digital Technologies, positioning Barnsley as a national leader in AI adoption, skills and digital innovation.
• Business Support: Launched IgniteAI and MeldAI, two flagship programmes helping businesses embed AI into day‑to‑day operations, improve productivity and develop future‑ready leadership capability.
• Awards: The Seam Digital Campus won major regional recognition at the South Yorkshire Property Awards 2026, strengthening Barnsley's reputation as a centre for innovation‑led regeneration.
• Health on the High Street: Growth of the Health on the High Street programme continued to be used as a flagship example of combining regeneration, town centre vitality, public service reform and economic growth.
• Area plans: By developing Area Plans, we're turning local ambitions into action, helping create stronger economies, better places and more opportunities for both residents and businesses, and helping to build a legacy.

What you’ll need

We’re looking for a strategic thinker, a skilled communicator, and a passionate public service leader. You’ll need:

• extensive experience in economic development, regeneration, and management
• strong financial and performance management capabilities
• experience working within a political environment
• deep knowledge of legislation and sector challenges
• inspirational leadership and strategic decision‑making skills

If you’re excited by the opportunity to lead economic regeneration in a dynamic council, we’d love to hear from you. Join us and be part of a council that’s bold, collaborative, and committed to making a real difference.

Head of Economic Development | £87,844- £96,387