The Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) is keen to attract someone with an excellent knowledge of regional development, devolution and local government in the UK. We are also looking for someone with well-developed qualitative research skills and who has the proven ability to build effective relationships both internally and externally in order to help us maximise the impact of CLES’s work in the longer term.

Brief description of the organisation

CLES is the national organisation for local economies and the UK centre for excellence on community wealth building.

From our base in Manchester, we work with people across the UK and internationally to create better economies for people, places and the planet. In particular, we support local areas to develop new solutions to the economic and social justice challenges we face at the current time.

We do research, conduct analysis and convene conversations with partners working in local economies, including devolved and local governments, civil society and business. We use their innovation and commitment to delivery to make the case for radical change in the UK nationally.

The need for CLES’s work has never been greater, given the challenges we face. Over the next few years we will be prioritising our work to look at how economic change can help local places address economic democracy, the climate emergency, health inequalities and the inequalities of land and property.

Brief description of the role

Our new Head of Regional Economic Change will lead a range of diverse projects, undertaking qualitative and quantitative research, facilitating workshops and policy conversations and developing new policy recommendations at the local, regional and national level. The holder of the role will be part of the organisation’s senior management team and will actively develop, manage and fundraise for new projects in support of our charitable mission and purpose.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Lead and manage programmes of work
• Build relationships and develop opportunities
• Be a great line manager
• Represent the organisation

Experience and skills

•  A strong interest and knowledge of local economic policy and how it is developed and implemented in different contexts.
• Knowledge of local government particularly local economic development and/or local planning.
• Regional economic development and devolution, especially in the UK and Ireland.
• Knowledge or experience of implementing community wealth building.
• Knowledge or experience of how health institutions can function as local economic anchors.
• Insight into how local economic development can help respond to the climate emergency.
• Facilitation and participative methods.
• Analysis and synthesis of empirical and qualitative data. Programme and project management.
• Line management.
• Communication skills – high level written and verbal.
• IT – Microsoft Office, Word and Excel as well as Teams/Zoom.
• A commitment to the values and ethos of CLES.