Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Economic Development Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Pride in Place |
Service |
Economy Team |
Business unit |
Economy Team |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Economic Development Manager |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Head of Economy |
Salary grade |
G |
JE ref |
TDA120 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To support the delivery of Torbay’s Economic Growth Strategy 2022-2030.
- To assist in the development and implementation of projects, funding applications, and sub strategies relating to the delivery of Torbay Council’s economic development work, in line with the Economic Growth Strategy.
- To support the wider team in the development and implementation of Torbay Council’s economic development work.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Effective delivery of Torbay Council’s economic development work through an agreed work plan.
- Maximising external funding in support of the agreed work plan.
- Enhanced external relationships locally, nationally and internationally leading to better engagement and access to funding opportunities to support economic development activities.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- To support development and delivery of specific projects within the Economic Growth Strategy.
- To support the development of economic development policy and strategy in support of Torbay Council priorities.
- Researching and securing investment for Torbay Council activity e.g. through leading and supporting successful bids for capital and revenue grant funding.
- To conduct and, where necessary commission, research and surveys and provide the analysis needed to inform effective economic development.
- Assist in delivery of the economic development aims and objectives of the Torbay Council business plan.
- To establish and maintain good relationships with partner organisations/stakeholders to ensure the needs of Torbay are reflected in local and national policy developments.
- To support Torbay’s involvement in funding programs and advise on funding opportunities.
- Providing funding and analytical information to businesses as requested.
- To make effective contributions to formal and informal meetings with members and officers providing accurate advice and information as required, preparing reports for the Torbay Council board, clients and other partners when necessary.
- To represent Torbay Council at meetings and consultation events and to engage with national, regional and local bodies including government departments, local authorities, business groups, local stakeholders and community groups. In particular, to ensure that the development of the strategies of partners, regional and sub-regional bodies are advanced with the best interests of Torbay fully maintained.
- To assist Torbay Council to deliver its key account management (Aftercare) program by maintaining and developing relationships with key businesses through regular 1-2-1 visits.
- To continue to take responsibility for professional development by identifying training needs and arranging for them to be met.
- To keep up to date with economic development policy areas and make recommendations for implementing good practice.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working office environment.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
9. Key contacts and relationships
External
- Will include among others Government departments, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise partners, businesses, business and community groups, NHS Trusts, education establishments, service providers, consultants, funders and other local authorities.
Internal
- Economy Team and wider Torbay Council departments;
- Torbay Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Directors, Divisional Directors, Heads of Service;
- Council Leader, Cabinet and other Torbay Council Members.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
- This post is office based at 3rd Floor, Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Economic Development Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Pride in Place |
Service |
Economy Team |
Business unit |
Economy Team |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to work with and present to a range of audiences.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Ability to identify and interpret key trends in within the economy and produce reports summarizing those trends.
- Understanding of project management techniques and methodologies.
- Ability to prioritise workloads and resolve conflicting priorities.
- Ability to use social media platforms.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Experienced with MS Office packages.
- Political awareness.
- Ability to demonstrate effective influencing and negotiating skills.
- Interest and enthusiasm for economic development and business support.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Knowledge and experience of economic development issues and a good understanding of the policy context.
- Knowledge of economic strategy and policy development and delivery.
- A demonstrable understanding of the statistics and data sources used to inform economic development policy.
- A good knowledge of social media platforms and how they may be used for effective communication.
- A good knowledge of mainstream UK funding streams.
Desirable knowledge
- An understanding of the issues facing the Torbay economy.
- Knowledge of economic strategy and policy development and delivery.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- A minimum of 1 years’ experience in Economic Development or a similar field or degree in a relevant field.
- Successful delivery of projects against stated outcomes.
- Experience of developing and managing project working in partnership.
- Degree level qualification (or equivalent).
Desirable experience and achievements
- Previous bid writing experience.
- Experience in securing external funding.
- Experience of performance management.
- Experience of using economic statistics and data sources to help inform economic policy.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Degree level qualification (or equivalent).
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Degree level qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline i.e. Economics, Geography, Planning, Real Estate.
- Record of continued training and professional development.
- Post graduate economic development qualification.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to travel efficiently around Torbay/ South-West/ UK to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate occasional unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate occasional/ permanent homeworking.