6 Month Contract With A Local Authority

To provide strategic subject matter expertise and leadership in the development and delivery of the Cardiff Capital Region’s (CCR) 10-year Regional Growth Plan, supporting the region’s ambition for sustainable, inclusive economic growth, improved productivity, innovation and long-term prosperity.

The postholder will lead the development of a robust regional economic evidence base and diagnosis, working across local government, Welsh Government, UK Government, business, academia, investors and regional partners to identify opportunities, challenges, policy gaps and priorities for intervention.

The role will build and strengthen strategic partnerships, translate complex economic and policy intelligence into clear strategic priorities, and develop evidence-based interventions capable of attracting investment, unlocking innovation and delivering measurable economic impact across South East Wales.

As a senior Subject Matter Expert, the postholder will provide intellectual leadership, strategic challenge and practical delivery capability, influencing stakeholders across a complex multi-governance environment and building consensus around a shared regional vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead strategic stakeholder engagement supporting the development and implementation of CCR’s 10-year Regional Growth Plan.
  
• Provide specialist economic development, policy and strategic insight to shape the region’s long-term growth priorities.
  
• Develop and maintain a robust evidence base and regional economic diagnosis, drawing on intelligence from government, local authorities, businesses, academia, investors and regional partners.
  
• Identify emerging economic opportunities, productivity gaps, barriers to growth, innovation opportunities and areas requiring strategic intervention.
  
• Translate complex economic, policy and market intelligence into clear, actionable recommendations for CCR leadership and regional partners.
  
• Design and oversee key themes, priorities and strategic strands within the Regional Growth Plan, ensuring they are coherent, evidence-based and deliverable.
  
• Develop compelling, evidence-based cases for investment, demonstrating strategic alignment, economic value, market opportunity and long-term sustainability.
  
• Lead and facilitate the co-design of interventions with public, private and academic partners to support innovation, R&D adoption, commercialisation and regional competitiveness.
  
• Build and maintain high-level, trust-based relationships with local authorities, Welsh Government, UK Government, universities, research institutions, businesses, investors and economic development organisations.
  
• Influence and negotiate across organisational boundaries to build consensus, resolve competing priorities and secure partner commitment to shared regional outcomes.
  
• Identify and support opportunities to align future funding with CCR’s strategic priorities and Regional Growth Plan.
  
• Represent CCR as a credible subject matter expert and thought leader in regional growth, economic development and innovation.
  
• Establish effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements to measure economic, innovation and organisational impact.
  
• Analyse performance data to identify emerging risks, opportunities and areas for improvement, recommending appropriate corrective action.
  
• Provide clear and authoritative reports, briefings and recommendations to CCR leadership, governance bodies and funders as required.
  
• Work collaboratively with the Policy & Impact and Regional Growth teams to ensure strategic alignment across programmes and areas of work.
  
• Provide leadership and direction to relevant team members, supporting capability development and embedding CCR’s values, behaviours and commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.
  
• Promote a culture of analytical rigour, collaboration, creativity, innovation and results-focused delivery.
  
• Ensure all activity is undertaken in accordance with relevant legislation, governance requirements, organisational policies and procedures.
  
• Contribute to the effective implementation of CCR’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety and sustainable growth.
  
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the level and nature of the role as required.
  

Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification, experience or professional expertise in a relevant field such as economic development, innovation, regional growth, public policy, R&D, business or a related discipline.
  
• Significant strategic-level experience in developing and delivering regional growth, economic development, innovation or related programmes.
  
• Strong knowledge of UK and Welsh Government economic development policy, funding and regional growth frameworks.
  
• Proven experience of developing strategic partnerships and engaging effectively with stakeholders across public, private, education and third sectors.
  
• Experience of working across complex multi-stakeholder or multi-governance environments.
  
• Experience of developing strategic programmes, interventions, investment propositions or business cases.
  
• Strong understanding of economic intelligence, market analysis, productivity, innovation and regional economic development.
  
• Experience of engaging with businesses, anchor organisations, SMEs, universities, research institutions, investors or government agencies.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex evidence and translate it into strategic recommendations.
  
• Excellent communication, influencing, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
  
• Ability to build consensus and secure commitment from stakeholders with differing priorities and interests.
  
• Strong project and programme management skills, including experience of managing risk, performance and delivery.
  
• Understanding of contract management, procurement and governance processes.
  
• Ability to establish effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting arrangements and use data to assess impact.
  
• Strong digital literacy, including the ability to use data, reporting and collaboration platforms effectively.
  
• Strategic thinker with a strong results-focused approach and the ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy.
  
• Adaptable, resilient and comfortable operating within a changing and evolving organisational environment.
  
• Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and to delivering sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
  
• Evidence of continuing professional development within the relevant specialist field.
  
• Professional qualification or certification in project or programme management, such as PRINCE2 or APM, would be desirable.
  
• Postgraduate qualification, chartered membership or equivalent specialist industry experience would be desirable.
  
• Ability to travel across the region and undertake occasional evening or weekend work when required.
  

Additional Information

• Hours per week: 37 hours
  
• Location: CCR’s office at Sbarc/Spark, Cardiff, with home working and agile working across the region
  
• Bi-Weekly Payments