Grow our future along with your own.

The Liverpool City Region has a proud history of enterprise and innovation and today has one of the country’s most dynamic economies.

Through devolution we can forge a better future for our 1.6 million residents, and, in our Plan for Prosperity, we have a 25-year blueprint for how we’ll do that through growing our economy. We have world-class strengths in health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and digital and creative, brilliant universities and are one of only three areas to boast both a Freeport and an Investment Zone. We’re looking for an exceptional, experienced, determined individual to help us maximise these strengths. You’ll be passionate about inclusive, green growth, with the strategic vision and experience to work in partnership to deliver economic prosperity. In return, you’ll be at the heart of our drive to make the Liverpool City Region an even better place to work, live, study and visit.

For an informal discussion contact, please contact: Aileen Jones –[email protected]

Role overview:

The successful candidate will lead the development and delivery of centralised co-ordinated business support, the city region inward investment service, including the delivery of the LCR Life Science Investment Zone and Freeport. Ensure that the terms and conditions of funding agreements are adhered to, service quality standards are maintained, project outputs and outcomes are delivered, and value for money is achieved. They will also communicate the economic vison of the CA to external stakeholders and work with industry, academia, and other stakeholders in particular working closely with the CA’s Business and Enterprise and Cluster Boards, the Freeport Board and the Investment Zone Steering Group. In addition, the successful candidate will lead the teams responsible for inward investment, centralised business support co-ordination, Freeport and the development of the team that will be needed for delivery of the Investment Zone.

Key role and responsibilities:

Contribute to the delivery of the Directorate Service Plan, the CA’s Corporate Plan, and the Investment Strategy and Plan for Prosperity.

Provide leadership for the Growth Platform – the CA’s 100% owned Business Growth Company in a period of change.

Represent and deputise for the Director as required.

Work collaboratively with the Investment and Delivery team and across all directorate to achieve corporately agreed objectives, and work closely with constituent Local Authorities

Lead stakeholder engagement for example with the Business and Enterprise Board, Industry Cluster Boards, the Freeport Board, the Investment Zone Steering Group and the wider Business and stakeholder Community across LCR. Represent the CA/GP at industry-led conferences and events.

Support the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Business and Enterprise Board, Cluster Boards, the Freeport Board, and Investment Zone Steering Group to prepare for meetings and other activities as required by providing insight and knowledge of the business community in the LCR.

Represent the CA in relation to activities promoted by the UK Government concerning business engagement / support, inward investment, and trade.

Work closely with DBT at a senior level to promote the LCR and its cluster strengths to attract FDI and increased trade.

Be responsible for external funding bids and the promotion of inward investment.

Lead the delivery of the Service Level Agreement between the CA and Growth Platform ensuring that all agreed service objectives, targets, and deliverables are achieved within the allocated budget and relevant programme rules.

Lead the development of an income generation strategy for the inward investment, business support and cluster development functions.

Develop service and operating plans ensuring that the right skills, expertise and resources are in place to ensure effective delivery and staff are fully aware of their roles and responsibilities.

Work closely with the senior leadership team in Growth Platform to manage operational delivery and plan future strategy in line with the CA’s expectations.

Oversee the agreed plan for transition of Growth Platform’s service delivery.

Manage key internal relationships within the CA in relation to projects and initiatives of importance to economic development and investment e.g., Freeports, Investment Zones, Innovation support, Strategic Investment Fund.

Manage key relationships with the LCR business community in pursuit of the objectives set out in the Plan for Prosperity in particular, with the Business and Enterprise Board and Cluster Boards.

Manage key relationships with constituent local authorities officers for example, Growth Directors and their Operational Staff ensuring the smooth and effective coordination of business support services across the city region.

Represent the CA in meetings with Inward Investors and at agreed trade, export and investment promotion events.

Draft and prepare reports to ELT and the CA on matters related to the development and delivery of business support, inward investment, and associated services.

Develop effective working relationships with the CA’s ELT, the Metro Mayor and elected members who serve on the CA.

Required skills and knowledge:

Significant experience of successful leadership in an economic development role.

Demonstrable experience of working with the private sector at a senior level (C – suite)

Stakeholder management experience with particular emphasis on public / private intersections and a translational ability to articulate clearly to both

Experience of serving on boards and other stakeholder engagement forums

Evidence of successful resource and financial management skills including budget formulation, financial monitoring and control procedures and maximising the deployment and control of grant funded programmes and projects to achieve results.

Evidence of success in building and enhancing the reputation of an organisation with external funding bodies and stakeholders.

A track record of working successfully in a political environment.

Evidence of successfully championing change management in a complex and demanding environment.

A track record of having achieved personal and professional goals over the course of their career.

An understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the LCR economy including the need to balance business growth and innovation with the wider need to achieve a fairer, cleaner, stronger, better connected and more inclusive economy in which commitment to EDI, the creation of social value and progress to net zero are critical considerations.

Promote teamwork and collaborate proactively with their colleagues and management peers.

Demonstrate ‘whole organisation’ thinking in the delivery of shared goals and objectives.

Work in an agile and effective way to ensure that the CA’s resources are used efficiently to achieve a positive impact.

Communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Demonstrate strong political awareness and cultural sensitivity.

Manage people well to encourage optimal employee engagement and performance.

Be skilled at managing change and dealing with potential conflict and resolution.

Demonstrate a commitment to customer excellence.

A commitment to the LCR and an understanding of its stakeholders

An ability to demonstrate our core values, including a commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Experience of contributing to a high-performance culture

What we can offer you:

Local Government Pension Scheme contributions between 5.5% and 12.5%

Generous holiday entitlement of 29 days as well as bank holidays and the option to buy 5 additional days

Free travel around Liverpool City Region with an All-Zone Metro card worth £1,450 per year plus All Zones Off Peak Trio ticket for your spouse or partner

Flexible and hybrid working with role dependent overtime and enhanced pay

24/7 access to Employee Assistance Programme for you and your family and Free counselling services

Corporate discounts at council-owned gyms

Bike to Work Scheme

Coaching, mentoring, apprenticeships, and professional qualifications including paid membership fees and even a £1k interest free learning loan for any non-job-related learning

If you think you match the job description and our values then click on the link to apply, indicating how you meet the person specification.

We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all candidates who met the essential criteria in the job description and who have declared that they: have a disability, are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background, are a member of a reservist or have close family links to a member of the Armed Forces as we are under-represented by people from these communities.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.