Lead Policy Officer

West Yorkshire Combined Authority; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexi-time

Annual leave

Free travel across West Yorkshire

Pension scheme

Professional development

Volunteer days

Salary progression

Parental leave

Bereavement leave

Wellbeing support

Headspace access

Modern offices near Leeds Station

Job summary

West Yorkshire Combined Authority is seeking a Lead Policy Officer (Creative Industries) in Leeds. The role is hybrid, full-time (37 hours), fixed term to 31 March 2029.

Salary £47,025 per annum, Grade 8. The post supports investment programmes and policy delivery for the region's Creative Industries sector.

Qualifications

• Degree in economics, finance or business management.
• Demonstrable experience writing Green Book‑compliant business cases.
• Experience using methodologies to support economic case for investment (NPV, BCR, etc.).
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with ability to work across stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support research and development of new policy initiatives to grow West Yorkshire's creative industries.
• Lead the development and submission of Green Book‑compliant business cases.
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders to deliver collaborative interventions.

Skills

Policy research

Stakeholder engagement

Economics

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Equity, diversity & inclusion

Education

Degree in economics/finance/business management

Job description

Lead Policy Officer (Creative Industries)
£47,025 per annum - Grade 8
Leeds / Hybrid
Full time - 37 hours per week

Fixed Term to 31 March 2029 (funding may be extended beyond this date)

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part‑time working and/or job share.

We currently have a fixed term vacancy for a Lead Policy Officer (with a background in Economic Policy) to join our Culture, Heritage and Sport team.

This is a new role opportunity in the Culture, Heritage and Sport team, for someone with an Economic Policy background.

The successful candidate will use their significant experience and expertise to play a key role within the team, contributing to the delivery and development of programmes of investment within West Yorkshire s Creative Industries sector, supporting inclusive and sustainable growth and increasing the sector s GVA contribution. This will include working across policy, investment, influencing, collaboration and convening, as well as championing the creative industries sector.

The postholder will contribute to the delivery of key regional strategies, including the West Yorkshire Plan, Mayoral Pledges, the Local Growth Plan and the Creative Industries Cluster Action Plan.

The postholder will work closely with colleagues across the Inclusive Economy Directorate, particularly within Business and Innovation, and Education and Skills, as well as with wider Combined Authority teams including Research and Intelligence, Place, Marcomms and the Mayoral Office (e.g. preparing briefings, speeches and staffing creative industries sector events).

The postholder will also engage with a wide range of external partners, including the five West Yorkshire Local Authorities (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield), the British Business Bank, private investors, Higher Education Institutes, charitable trusts, philanthropists, and Arm s Length Bodies such as AHRC and Innovate UK.

Our Offer

• Work your way From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.

• Time to recharge Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.

• Free greener travel across West Yorkshire Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1 5).

• Secure your future Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Investing in you Take advantage of supported professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.

• Grow with us Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.

• Family first We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.

• Your wellbeing, our priority Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.

• Modern workspace in a prime location Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Culture, Heritage and Sport Policy, your key responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the research and development of new policy initiatives to increase the growth in West Yorkshire s creative industries sector, in alignment with the Creative Industries Cluster Plan, Mayoral pledges, the West Yorkshire Plan, and Local Growth Plan, in line with the West Yorkshire Culture Heritage and Sport Framework and Evaluation Framework.

• Leading the development and submission of Green Book-compliant businesses cases for schemes to support growth in the creative industries sector, applying expertise in Options Appraisal against critical success factors, Impact Assessment, Net present value (and NPSV) and Benefit-cost-ratio.

• Growing proactive and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders including local, regional and central government, private sector businesses, sector bodies, investors, and relevant arm s length bodies. Including ensuring creative industries interventions are developed and delivered through authentic collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including representing the Combined Authority at external events, meetings and consultations. As well as convening and administering various groups and meetings.

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

• A degree or equivalent professional experience in economics, finance or business management.

• Demonstrable experience of writing Green Book-compliant business cases.

• Demonstrable experience of using appropriate methodologies to support the economic case for investment, including identifying market failure, Options Appraisal, Impact Assessment, NPV, NPSV and Benefit-cost-ratio. Including demonstrable understanding of the key considerations and processes of debt finance and equity investment.

• Strong collaborative, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse stakeholders, including communicating confidently with excellent written, analytical, and presentation skills. Positive, team-oriented approach, able to represent the organisation in meetings, events, and policy development settings. Demonstrable commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

• Desirable an understanding of the creative industries sector, including current challenges and opportunities posed by technological disruption; experience of working within, or with, local, regional or national government or public sector bodies; an understanding of social investment mechanisms such as Community Asset Transfers and Community Investment Tax Relief.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.