Head of Economic Development

Tile Hill; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnsley is pursuing a bold regeneration agenda and major capital investment. As Head of Economic Development you will build on established teams and deliver across economic growth, business support, inward investment and regeneration, shaping the borough's future.

You will work with regional and national partners to secure investment, steer the portfolio, and translate opportunities into credible propositions that benefit businesses, places and communities across Barnsley.

Job description

Barnsley has already proved it can deliver. Now we’re looking for someone to help decide what comes next.

Major regeneration is moving forward. New investment is being shaped. Barnsley is pursuing an ambition to become recognised as the UK’s leading digital town. And one of the borough’s most high profile programmes will see around £70 million invested in transforming shopping centre space into a new health facility.

This is your opportunity to get right into the middle of it.

As Head of Economic Development, you will build on strong foundations, established teams and a proven track record of delivery. Your task will be to keep successful programmes moving while identifying the next opportunity, securing the next investment and shaping the next chapter of Barnsley’s economic story.

You will lead a broad portfolio spanning economic growth, business support, inward investment and major regeneration. With oversight of a significant capital programme, you will combine strategic leadership with the opportunity to remain close to delivery and see the impact of your decisions across businesses, places and communities.

You will help shape new investment across the borough’s principal towns and local centres, while using Enterprise Barnsley’s established platform to support businesses, attract investment and grow the local economy.

Your influence will extend beyond the borough. Working with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, central government and other partners, you will position Barnsley to secure investment and capitalise on new opportunities. As devolution continues to reshape funding, skills, investment and business support, you will ensure Barnsley has a strong voice in the conversations that matter.

We are looking for more than a technical economic development specialist. You will bring the strategic judgement, commercial awareness and delivery grip to provide confidence around complex programmes, spot opportunities and turn them into credible propositions.

We want to hear from ambitious senior leaders who are ready for a bigger platform and can demonstrate experience at the scale and complexity the position demands.

What makes this opportunity distinctive is the combination: major programmes already moving, ambitious ideas still to shape, strong teams to lead and the freedom to influence where Barnsley goes next.

If you are looking for a role where economic development means far more than writing strategies, and where the results of your leadership will be visible in businesses, places and communities, we would like to hear from you.