About the Role
We have a unique opportunity for you to shape, influence and create better lives for Warwickshire residents – as the Head of Economy & Skills at Warwickshire County Council you can be truly creative in your influence! This is a great time to join us with economic growth being at the top of our agenda.
Warwickshire has a strong and dynamic economy and is home to many UK and international brands with key strengths currently featuring in automotive, future mobility and digital creative industries. Warwickshire is a major global centre for vehicle electrification, autonomous technologies, and video game development. Our local universities include the Top 10 University of Warwick and Modern University of the Year, Coventry University. There’s a lot happening here that we want you to become a part of!
As the lead for economy & skills, you will have a strong understanding of the private sector and the key drivers facing the wider business community at the moment; and through the freedom and creativity this role gives, you have the opportunity to use your commercial experience and knowledge to benefit our whole community.
As a credible leader for Warwickshire, you will be expected to build strong working relationships with partners across the private and public sector to deliver one of our key objects:
Making sure Warwickshire’s economy is vibrant and supported by the right jobs, training skills and infrastructure.
What we are looking for:
- Experience in taking on responsibility for developing and implementing our strategic economic growth plan, and working with sub-regional, regional and national partners to shape their strategic plans for economic growth
- Excellent leadership skills to lead a multi-disciplinary team working at locations across the County.
- The ability to develop and manage business support programmes that drive economic growth, productivity and innovation, including financial management of significant budgets and grant funding
- Ability to strategically shape and influence skills provision, employment and careers activities with the county; and work closely with businesses, schools, colleges, and training providers to develop innovative and effective solutions
- A desire to provide high quality facilities through our network of business centres, and understanding of what is needed to deliver these
- Experience and knowledge in promoting, attracting and landing inward investment to support our sector growth plans
- Knowledge and understanding of regeneration and place shaping from a economic perspective
- Strong understanding of the use of data to inform, shape and drive policy and strategy work.
Hybrid working is part of our ethos, we are flexible in the way we work; however, this role will require a presence in Warwickshire.