York is a wonderful place to live and work and it is quite rightly famous across the globe, but there is so much more to the city than its rich history and amazing heritage. York is dynamic and thriving, modern and forward looking. It has a distinctive geography: a compact city at the heart of a large rural area in North Yorkshire with peerless national transport links.

York has a strong economy and we responded well to the challenges of Covid. We have high employment, wages above average, productivity among the highest in the North, a great education system and the reputation as a great place to live. However, we are also an expensive city for housing and too many people in York are struggling to get by. We need to drive growth but ensure that it is both inclusive and sustainable as a part of our ambitions to be part of a carbon negative region.

We are crafting our future economic strategy and launching our vision to regenerate our city centre. 

We see York as the centre of globally significant clusters in rail and bio-technology, leading the way in demonstrating the benefits of the green economy, and a beacon for flexible, productive jobs that enable our people to make the most of their abilities and live well. We want York to be in the top 25% of UK economies and that means increasing productivity and pay while continuing to grow new skills in our workforce

York Central is our key regeneration site and enterprise zone and, after many years in the planning, is finally about to happen. We are about to sign a devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire, with a broader ambition for inward investment across the region. So now is a great time to join the team in York, with the opportunity to bring our plans to life and make a real difference as Head of Inward Investment.

Responsibilities include

• To drive and support the growth of key sectors of the economy in York and North Yorkshire, including Bioscience, Rail-Tech, Media Arts, Digital/Creative, Financial Services and life sciences by attracting new businesses and investment.
• To support existing businesses in the city to grow.
• To lead the city’s inward investment work through driving forward the inward investment strategy and leading on its implementation.
• To facilitate and bring added value to relationships and best practice approaches to support growth in the area.
• To demonstrate the benefits of collaborative working across a complex inward investment landscape to encourage joint investment and working.
• To project manage specific investment opportunities from enquiry to completion.
• To ensure the project delivery, marketing and expenditures are compliant with regulations and guidelines.
• The Ideal Candidate
• Educated to degree level or have an equivalent qualification relevant to Economic Development, or have accumulated specialist knowledge through lived experience in the field of economic development and inward investment.
• Extensive knowledge and understanding of inward investment and trade development in a local and regional government context.
• Proven experience working at a senior level and managing complex inward investment projects.

If you’re looking for a new challenge, to develop your career, or you’re interested in the diversity of the work in a Local Authority could offer, then we would welcome your application.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

At the moment due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some of our staff are working remotely from home but a return to a combination of working remotely and physically from the Council’s offices is anticipated in the near future.

As a new starter, your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team. Your working arrangements will vary according to your service and role, and the current Government guidance. For many roles, there will be more opportunities in the future for remote and hybrid working. However, this comes with the expectation that, as workplaces open up, there is likely to be an ongoing and occasional requirement to attend the workplace.

The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

This post is deemed as politically restricted. As designated politically restricted officers, employees will not be allowed to undertake certain activities. Please refer to the guidance attached for further information.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Simon Brereton (Head of Economy) at simon.brereton@york.gov.uk  or on 07768 546505  

Politically_restricted_1_.pdf

Head of Inward Investment (0099 0721).docx

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.