Economic Development Lead

Economic Development Lead (to be agreed)GBP46,175 per annum, 37 hours per weekPermanent Witney/Agile & Homeworking

Are you passionate about improving people's quality of life and enabling the economic vitality and resilience of West Oxfordshire? We are looking for an enthusiastic Economic Development Lead that will help us to enhance the economic wellbeing of our communities and foster sustainable growth.

West Oxfordshire District Council is committed to offering a fulfilling and meaningful quality of life for our residents with opportunities for all to flourish. We are keen to build on local economic strengths, including advanced manufacturing, life science and a vibrant rural economy. You can help us achieve this as a business-friendly Council committed to making our district a thriving and prosperous place for entrepreneurs and businesses, where local people and visitors can enjoy the beauty and heritage of our landscape, built, farmed and natural environment.

Some of our team's purposes are:

• Working in partnership to connect communities physically and digitally to support healthy, safe, and sustainable communities.
• Attracting inward investment and new funding to grow a sustainable and vibrant local economy.
• Improving social mobility and raising aspirations through healthy place shaping, Economic Development, and regeneration projects

About the role

As the Economic Development Lead, you will have the opportunity to shape and implement strategies that will directly impact people's lives. Your role will involve collaborating with key stakeholders in your area, identifying opportunities and driving initiatives to promote economic prosperity.

You will be supporting the Council's priorities across the district, working collaboratively with Market towns to enable the implementation of Town Partnership and drive economic ambitions in those locations, representing the council in the business community. You will be supporting the delivery of government funded interventions including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund as well as externally funded programmes demonstrating your commitment and resilience to succeed.

This is an amazing opportunity to lead and inspire Economic Development across the district as a place for entrepreneurs and businesses to thrive. For more information about this role please see the Job Description attached to this advert alongside the candidate letter.

You will need

• Energy, imagination, and great listening skills to make a real difference as part of the business community.
• An in-depth understanding of wider financial cycles and of how business investment works in choosing location and supporting growth.
• The ability to build enduring relationships with local businesses and business organisations
• A proactive approach with the ability to draw on a wealth of business experience to support local businesses.
• Relevant qualification and professional membership/qualification of governing body.

Special conditions

• There may be a requirement to work at other Publica Group (Support) Ltd and/or client locations to meet the needs of the business.
• You will be expected to work reasonable additional hours in line with the needs of the service; and
• Ability to travel
• BPSS

You will be employed by Publica Group Ltd which was created by four partner Councils (West Oxfordshire District Council, Cotswold District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Forest of Dean District Council) to deliver more efficient and improved services.

What can we do for you

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays and an extra two volunteering days off a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Pension scheme with a good employer contribution of 5% of your earnings
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with huge tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Access to digital financial advice (covering your pension scheme, mortgages and other finances)
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements
• Additional income protection, covering 50% of your salary for potentially a further five years if you are unable to work due to sickness or injury
• Life assurance, currently four times your annual salary

To apply for this position please click on "apply now" within this page and submit your CV and supporting statement. Please tell us about your skills, knowledge, qualifications, experience and how they meet the criteria listed above and in the job description/person specification. It's important that we're a good fit for each other, so let us know what's important to you and why you want to work for Publica Group Ltd

Your application will not be considered if you have not provided a supporting statement, in addition to your CV.Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.