Inclusive Economy Manager - #1736632

Inclusive Economy Manager

£49,359 per annum (pay award pending) - Grade 9

Leeds / Hybrid Full time / Permanent - 37 hours per week

Closing date – 15 June at 23:55

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is excited to offer a new opportunity for an Inclusive Economy Manager to join our growing Employment and Skills team. This newly created role sits at the heart of our efforts to drive inclusive economic growth across the region, offering a unique chance to lead strategic work with employers on the skills agenda. As Inclusive Economy Manager, you will play a key role in shaping and influencing the skills for business ecosystem, working collaboratively across internal teams and with a wide range of external partners.

You will lead a newly formed team, with responsibility for designing and delivering innovative and inclusive methods to engage, convene and collaborate with employers across the region. This will include driving forward the development of evidence-based policy and strategic thinking to support key priorities for West Yorkshire. The role of Inclusive Economy Manager is highly collaborative and will involve close working with colleagues across the Employment and Skills and Business Teams, as well as with businesses, stakeholders, and wider regional partners. It presents a unique opportunity to contribute to the delivery of the Combined Authority’s ambition for a stronger, more inclusive regional economy.

Our Offer

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

· 28 days Annual Leave (increasing upon years of service) plus Bank Holidays

· Generous Employer-Contribution Pension Scheme

· Free Travel on rail and buses across West Yorkshire with the M-Card (Zones 1-5)

· Flexible Working Practices with Health & Wellbeing initiatives, including agile working options, as well as a generous flexi-time scheme to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals.

· Bright, airy, modern office space, with all latest technology, just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station.

The Role

Reporting into Michelle Hunter, Policy and Partnerships Lead – Skills for Business, your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development and interventions, engagement in the skills for business team

• Convening and working in partnership with businesses and a wide range of stakeholders

• Driving strategic thinking and evidence-based policy thinking around key priorities in skills for business

Please review the Role Profile on our website for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:

• Substantial and demonstrable experience, knowledge and understanding of local and national employment and skills and/or business policy

• Experience of engaging and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to design evidence-based solutions

• Strong communication skills and experience of negotiating and influencing stakeholders and partners

• Knowledge and understanding of key challenges and opportunities for businesses engaging in the employment and skills agenda

• Experience of working with a political partnership organisation across policy and programme development

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.