Job title: Head of Economic Strategy and Policy Delivery

Salary: Dir 52.5% £70,210 - £77,020

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

As the Head of Economic Strategy and Delivery, you’ll thrive on shaping and influencing the long-term economic future of Leeds and turning ambitious plans into real outcomes for the city. This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of Leeds’ inclusive growth agenda, bringing together strategy, partnership working and delivery to help drive the Leeds Economic Vision and Growth Ambition. It’s not about developing strategy and policy in isolation — it’s about delivery, building strong partnerships, working with elected members and making sure Leeds continues to lead as a dynamic, innovative and inclusive economy. You will enjoy working at pace across complex agendas, working across the city and using your insight and leadership to make a visible difference for Leeds, its communities and its economy.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Head of Economic Strategy and Policy Delivery you will bring to the role:

Senior leadership and management experience in economic strategy, policy and service delivery.
Detailed knowledge of economic strategy, policy, partnerships and delivery, together with an understanding of local government, regional authorities and politically sensitive decision-making.
Strong experience of shaping and influencing strategic priorities with senior leaders, elected members and partners.
A proven track record of building credible, collaborative relationships across internal and external stakeholders, including regional and city partners.

About the role

As our next Head of Economic Strategy and Policy Delivery, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering the Leeds Economic Vision and Growth Ambition, helping to shape the city’s long-term economic direction and ensure our priorities translate into meaningful action. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and influence major agendas including inclusive growth, innovation, sector development, skills and investment, while helping Leeds remain ambitious, evidence-led and future-focused.

The role is integral to our Economy and Skills service, working across the council and with key partners including WYCA, government departments, higher and further education, health partners and businesses. You will lead a high-performing team, oversee major policy-driven plans and partnerships, and represent Leeds in senior forums to help secure investment, influence policy and support delivery of the city’s wider ambitions.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary starting at £ 72,735 and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement setting out how you meet the requirements of the role, of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Fiona Bolam, Chief Officer Economy and Skills. Fiona.Bolam@Leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose

Assist the Chief Officer Chief Officer for Economy and Skills in the leadership of the implementation of the Leeds Economic Vision and Leeds Growth Ambition, working with partners to achieve inclusive economic growth and delivery of the Leeds Ambitions.

Responsibilities

Strategic

Work across organisational boundaries and with partners at a leadership level including with Chief Officer Economy and Skills, Director of City Development and Chief Executive, this post will deliver within tight timescales and to high standards.
Responsible for driving the implementation of the Leeds Economic Vision, working across City Development, LCC and with city partners to deliver the plan for growth and articulating the key work packages associated with delivery of the Vision and Strategy.
Develop and lead the implementation plan of the non-physical development economic aspects of the Leeds Economic Vision including the development and implementation of the plan for the Northern Square Mile.
With the Chief Officer for Economy and Skills, lead reviews of current economic strategies and plans, including the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy and the city’s Future Talent Plan when required.
Deliver senior professional advice on economic policy and strategy, helping to shape the city’s long‑term economic direction and supporting the Chief Officer Economy and Skills in implementing and influencing local, regional, and national decision-making.
Work with partners and key stakeholders across sectors, including WYCA, Government Departments, Higher and Further Education and Health forging and driving successful partnerships to deliver economic and cross sector priorities and outcomes.
Provide strategic policy leadership on the economy and support the Chief Officer to influence relevant regional and national agendas.
Drive policy innovation and position Leeds as a national leader in inclusive growth, productivity, innovation, and future‑ready industrial policy.
Convene and work with LCC colleagues to ensure that Leeds stays at the forefront of economic and place-based thinking, commissioning key pieces of work to further position Leeds as an economic powerhouse

Sector, Innovation & Ecosystem Development

Lead the development and implementation of a plan to enable the Northern Square Mile to thrive.
Provide leadership for sector development, innovation, and business relationships, focusing in particular on sectors driving economic growth, including Finance and Professional Services, Digital and Tech and Health and Health tech.
Working with city partners, drive the city’s innovation ambitions, shaping and implementing of the workplan for the Leeds Innovation Partnership
Identify and support actions and initiatives supporting innovation, R&D, Commercialisation, and business scale-up with city innovation partners.
Ensure Leads’ economic policies foster inclusive access to opportunity and future skills development.

Economic Analysis, Evidence & Insight

Lead the development and maintenance of a high‑quality economic evidence base.
Lead horizon scanning, providing senior officers and elected members with authoritative economic advice and strategic foresight.
Explore new and innovative approaches to data insight and evidence on the economy.

Strategy Integration & Corporate Influence

Working closely with LCC colleagues ensures that economic growth is well understood and integrated into Healthy, Thriving and Resilient Leeds Ambitions plans as required.
Ensure economic policy coherence across major city programmes including skills, business support, regeneration, net zero, innovation and international strategy.
Work across directorates to embed economic policy within corporate planning, business case development and investment decisions when required.
Support the Chief Officer in shaping responses to government consultations, spending reviews, and developments.
Partnership Development and Representation
Build and maintain high-value partnerships that support the delivery of the Economic Vision and the Leeds Growth Ambition.
Represent Leeds CC in senior-level forums including West Yorkshire LABEL meetings.
Work with WYCA and Government departments to secure investment and influence policy.
Programme Oversight & Governance
Provide senior oversight of major policy-driven plans as required.
Lead the development of business cases and funding proposals where appropriate.
Ensure high standards of reporting and briefing including briefings for the Leader of the Council, Lead Economic Member and Chief Executive. Write and contribute to Council Executive Board Reports

Leadership & Management

Lead and develop a high performing team of flexible economic development and policy colleagues a high performing team and manage resources to achieve service outcomes and overarching objectives in line with the city’s agreed prioritisation.
Motivate, develop, and coach staff within the service to ensure proactive work programme management and successful achievement of desired outcomes.
Build a culture of high performance and excellence.
Contribute to the senior leadership of the Economy and Skills Service
Contribute to the Leadership of Leeds Ambitions, taking a key role in supporting delivery of the Leeds Growth Ambition
In line with the Budget Management Accountability Framework to be responsible and accountable for managing budgets and developing appropriate, proportionate and effective financial solutions to be implemented across the service
Uphold Leeds City Council values.
Ensure compliance with statutory responsibilities.
Contribute to cross‑council initiatives and transformation programmes.
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion including through the development and implementation of the Service EDI Action Plan
Develop and deliver the service plan and continuous improvement initiatives

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate to the grade.

Qualifications A degree in a relevant degree qualification, professional qualification or substantial experience in the field of economic development or economic policy and strategy delivery, together with leadership and management experience is essential

Working Context- Post holders will work flexibly both at in the LCC Office, at home and at various locations across the City and region. All colleagues should work in line with our hybrid working principles and spend regular time in the workplace to support service delivery, meeting the needs of the team and the requirements of their individual role. The hours are worked mainly Monday to Friday. However, the post holder will be expected to work outside normal working hours, including attendance at evening/weekend meetings or events if required to meet the needs of the service.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality and transformational outcomes.
Detailed knowledge and understanding of economic strategy, policy, partnerships and delivery. An understanding of local government political systems and experience of working on politically sensitive issues.
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable legislation, regulations, policies, inspections and performance information and relevant strategic functions e.g. health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection.
Substantial senior leadership and management experience in areas relevant to the area of service delivery
Experience of working with senior leadership to shape and influence the delivery of strategic economic priorities ensuring outcomes and people are kept at the forefront of delivery.
Substantial experience in building credible and effective collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders including, business, third sector, city and regional partner organisations.
Substantial experience of working with partners and key stakeholders and of forging and driving successful strategies and partnerships programmes, delivering across sector priorities and outcomes.
Evidence of significant experience and commitment in relation to the engagement of stakeholders in strategy development and decision-making processes.
Significant experience of developing productive working relationships with Council Members, trade unions and Corporate Leadership Team which commands respect trust and confidence
Able to demonstrate examples of managing services, implementing change and achieving quality transformational outcomes
Experience of working with senior management to shape and influence the delivery of the council’s strategic priorities at a City, Directorate and Service level

Behavioural & other Characteristics required.

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Be aware of promote and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection.
Be aware of and support difference ensuring equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the behaviours, values and standards of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
Understand and observe Leeds City Council approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.