Senior Lead Inward Investment

Swindon Borough Council; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Swindon Borough Council is seeking a Senior Lead Inward Investment to drive the strategic attraction of capital investment, relocations and Foreign Direct Investment.

You will own the end-to-end investor journey from initial pitch to site search, planning navigation, landing and aftercare, representing Swindon on regional and national stages to champion growth clusters and social value.

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience in economic development, commercial property or corporate inward investment/FDI.
• Proven track record of converting opportunities into tangible commercial outcomes.
• Ability to influence decisions and lead complex site-selection and investor negotiations.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic attraction of capital investment, relocations and FDI.
• Own the investor journey from pitch to landing and aftercare.
• Represent Swindon at regional, national and international events and build growth clusters.

Job description

Senior Lead Inward Investment

Ref: 196464

Salary: £60,290 p.a. plus benefits

37 hours per week

Swindon Borough Council are on an exciting journey to transform service delivery. We want our town to be the best it can be. Our ambitious vision in the new Swindon Plan is supported by realistic transformation programmes, with the people of Swindon at their heart. Because that's who we're doing it for - the communities and businesses that make our town great. As part of the Council, you'll support a friendly local authority making decisions with real impact. It's all for better public services. Better processes. And a better quality of life, for everyone. Join us, and Swindon will be better with you.

Your next role

Swindon means business. Backed by high economic output, exceptional strategic connectivity, and prime development assets along the M4 corridor, our Inclusive Growth Directorate is driving transformative commercial investment.

Operating at the forefront of the Council's 'Going for Growth' priority, as Senior Lead Inward Investment you will lead the strategic attraction of capital investment, domestic relocations, and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). You will take end-to-end ownership of the investor journey-from initial pitch and tailored proposition development to site searches, planning/infrastructure navigation, commercial landing, and investor aftercare.

Representing Swindon on regional, national, and international stages (including major industry events such as UKREiiF and DSEI UK), you will champion key growth clusters across advanced manufacturing, defence technologies, clean growth, modern logistics, and financial/professional services.

Working alongside commercial developers, agents, central government departments (DBT, Office for Investment), and regional partners across the emerging Thames Valley footprint. The impact will go beyond securing commercial landings. You will help ensure investment delivers high-value jobs, sustainable rate yield and wider community benefit through stronger local supply chains, apprenticeships and social value.

About you

You will bring substantial senior-level experience from economic development, commercial property or corporate inward investment/FDI, together with a demonstrable record of converting opportunity into tangible commercial outcomes. You will understand what investors need, know how to shape a persuasive proposition and be comfortable leading complex site-selection, commercial negotiation and investor-concierge activity through to successful landing.

Commercial credibility will be critical. You will understand the relationship between land, development, infrastructure, master planning, developer agreements and business rates, while being equally confident operating with C-suite executives, institutional investors and senior government stakeholders. You will know how to build trust, influence decisions and maintain momentum when multiple commercial and public-sector interests need to align.

This is also a role for someone who can lead through influence. You will be comfortable bringing together Planning, Highways, Assets and wider partners around complex opportunities, providing clear operational direction and driving collective delivery without relying solely on formal line-management authority.You must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act for the effective performance of a customer-facing role).

The ability to travel throughout the Borough and regionally will be required, with access to a car/transport to attend investor meetings, site visits, and commercial expos.

The team operates a hybrid working model with all practitioners expected to be in the office for a minimum of two days per week.

Your next package

Please see our Rewards and Benefits offer for more details.

As an employee, you will receive a diverse and exciting environment in which to work, encouraging creativity and innovation whilst recognising the need to support ongoing personal development and a flexible work life balance.

You will join us at an important point in our growth journey, with the freedom to bring commercial insight, challenge our thinking and strengthen how Swindon competes for investment. The reward is the opportunity to create a lasting economic legacy - attracting businesses and capital that support high-value employment, stronger supply chains and sustainable growth for the Borough.

Please see our Vision and Values page for more details and our new Swindon Plan.

Potential applicants are sometimes put off if they don't meet 100% of the requirements. We think individual experience, skills and passion make all the difference, so if you meet the majority of the criteria, we'd love to hear from you.

As an inclusive employer, we welcome applications from a diverse range of communities, and in particular disabled people and people from ethnic minorities. Read our statement of commitment to equality & inclusion.

For further information or an informal discussion about the role, please contact Andrew Wells, Head of Inward Investment & Inclusive Economy, at [e-mail]

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application, please email [e-mail]

Closing date: 13 November 2026

Interview date: w/c 23 November 2026