Location
Durham, County Durham | United Kingdom
Job description
JOIN BUSINESS DURHAM AND HELP TO GROW COUNTY DURHAM’S ECONOMIC FUTURE
This is an exciting time to join Business Durham and play a key role in driving business growth in County Durham. We are looking for a transformative leader with a strong business skills and experience in leading business engagement, account management, inward investment and sector development services within an economic development environment.
WHY BUSINESS DURHAM?- Make a real difference: We're not just connecting businesses with resources but building long-term partnerships that fuel sustainable growth and impact lives across the county.
- Be at the forefront of innovation: We're actively shaping the future by delivering the County Durham Inclusive Economic Strategy, attracting inward investment, and leading key sector development initiatives.
- Work in a dynamic environment: We offer a stimulating and collaborative work culture where you can contribute strategically and see the direct impact of your work on the local economy.
- Embrace new challenges: We manage a diverse portfolio of business properties, encompassing modern labs, industrial units, and commercial spaces, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of growing businesses.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?Significant recent experience of managing business support, business engagement, and inward investment services will be essential, as you will lead a strategic approach to business growth, developing County Durham’s reputation for excellence in supporting businesses, building on key sectors and existing strengths in the County, and maximising opportunities for inward investment.
Your excellent communication and interpersonal skills will be brought to the fore in establishing and maintaining strong relationships with businesses, key partners and stakeholders, as well as leading teams of experienced business engagement professionals, and supporting the management of the Business Durham service.
An ability to maintain a strategic overview as well as identify problems and implement solutions will be crucial when reviewing inward investment and business support provision and performance, to ensure value for money and economic impact. And you will have the opportunity to play a significant role in the ongoing delivery and development of business growth programmes and activities to contribute to the County Durham Inclusive Economic strategy.
WHAT WILL YOU NEED?You will need to be educated to degree level or equivalent with extensive relevant experience and evidence of a commitment to professional development. You will also need:
Significant recent experience of managing business support, business engagement, and inward investment services.
Recent experience and understanding of the economic development and business support landscape in the North East, especially in relation to inward investment and business growth.
Significant recent experience of engaging, developing and managing business relationships.
Knowledge of business operations and the factors affecting corporate decision making, particularly business and economic drivers.
Strong business skills and financial judgement.
Highly developed effective interpersonal communication skills.
The ability to establish excellent stakeholder relationships.
Ability to recognise key issues, identify problems, and find and implement solutions
Take a look at the person specification for the full criteria.
BENEFITS AND REWARDS We want to be sure that every member of staff feels valued and rewarded for their individual contribution and believe we’ve got everything you’d expect from a large organisation, we offer;
• Competitive salaries, with opportunity for incremental annual
increases until you reach the top of your pay scale.
• Various flexible working options including a hybrid approach.
• Current holiday entitlement of 27 days per year, rising to 32 days after
five years continuous local government service.
• Attractive pension scheme.
• Salary sacrifice schemes (including car and cycle) and access to
employee discounts on goods, services, and travel.
• Wellbeing support.
• Access to ongoing training and development.
Benefits and rewards are subject to individual terms and conditions.
If you would like to know more about our rewards and benefits package, please follow the link
IS THIS ROLE FOR YOU?If you would like to know more about the post, please contact Sarah Slaven, Managing Director, Business Durham on 03000 261 258 or via email at
[email protected] HOW TO APPLY In line with the County Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs. Applications must be submitted on-line via the Northeast Jobs portal.
Please use the ‘Person Specification’ section of your application form to demonstrate that you have the essential and where possible, desirable experience, skills, and knowledge. Candidates who do not evidence that they meet the essential qualifications and experience listed on the person specification will not be short-listed.
INTERVIEWS Interviews are scheduled to be held on Thursday 11th April 2024
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.
If you have any support needs or require assistance when applying for this role, please contact the Payroll and Employee Services Team via email
[email protected] or telephone 03000 264469 / 264798 / 264764
BENEFITS AND REWARDS We can offer you a range of employee benefits including competitive salaries, a generous leave entitlement of up to 32 days, a government pension scheme and various flexible and hybrid working options (benefits are subject to individual Terms and Conditions).
If you would like to know more, please follow this link:
HYBRID WORKING Durham County Council currently operates a hybrid working policy where a model of 2 days in the workplace and 3 days at home/remote will apply. This model is pro-rated for part time roles and arrangements are at managers discretion, alternatively you can work all of your contracted hours within the workplace if you prefer.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION We are a proud equal opportunities employer and recognise the value of difference, having a diverse talented workforce brings new ideas and new perspectives, which will facilitate growth and improvements to services.
As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from disabled people and can provide support throughout the recruitment process, for more information please refer to the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion page on our website.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION REGARDING YOUR APPLICATION FOR THIS POST WILL BE SENT TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS THAT YOU HAVE REGISTERED WITH NORTH EAST JOBS, INCLUDING YOUR INVITE TO INTERVIEW IF YOU ARE SHORTLISTED. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL AFTER THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOTIFICATION FROM
[email protected] AS YOU WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED BY ANY OTHER MEANS. PLEASE ENSURE YOU CHECK YOUR JUNK MAIL.
Job tags
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