Sector Lead – Culture, Creative, Visitor Economy in Chesterfield

Grade: F17

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Head of Culture & Creative or Head of Visitor Economy

Location: Chesterfield (with hybrid working)

Directorate: Strategy and Inclusive Growth

The successful candidate will normally be appointed at the minimum point of the salary band, unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Sector Lead – Culture, Creative, Visitor Economy

About EMCCA

East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) brings partners together to help make the East Midlands more prosperous, sustainable and fairer. We are an evolving organisation, moving our focus towards delivery against our Corporate Plan and building the people, systems and capability needed to turn our ambitions into results.

This makes it an exciting time to join us. You will have the opportunity to contribute to a developing organisation, shape how we work and help deliver meaningful outcomes for our region.

About the role

As Sector Lead – Culture, Creative, Visitor Economy, you will play a key role in developing EMCCA’s strategy, policies and programmes to drive growth across the culture, creative and visitor economy sectors and maximise the benefits of devolution for the East Midlands.

Working closely with the Head of Culture & Creative and Head of Visitor Economy, you will lead and contribute to policy and programme development and delivery, balancing longer-term strategic thinking with the need to respond effectively to emerging opportunities and priorities.

You will work with colleagues across EMCCA and build strong relationships with local, regional and national partners to align activity, secure investment and develop opportunities for the region. This is an opportunity to help shape EMCCA’s approach to sector growth and make a tangible contribution to a more vibrant, prosperous and inclusive East Midlands.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the development and commissioning of policies and programmes that support growth across the creative, cultural and visitor economy.
• Manage strategy and programme delivery across the sector, ensuring activity is delivered against agreed budgets, targets and KPIs and aligned with the Corporate Plan and East Midlands Growth Plan.
• Prepare business cases, budgets and delivery schedules that support effective programme delivery and achieve value for money.
• Develop creative, culture and visitor economy growth priorities aligned with the regional growth plan and translate these into innovative programmes and initiatives.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external partners, including central and local government and organisations across the culture, creative, sport and visitor economy sectors.
• Convene local and regional stakeholders to coordinate activity, develop new opportunities and maximise the impact of investment across the region.
• Analyse data and provide clear reporting, policy briefings, presentations and advice to support effective decision-making by senior leaders.
• Represent EMCCA at local, regional and national meetings, events and networks, advocating for the region and identifying opportunities to support growth and investment.

Essential requirements

What you’ll bring Experience in a similar role developing and delivering policy and programmes within a complex environment. Strong experience of programme delivery, including managing activity against agreed objectives, budgets, targets and KPIs. Experience of preparing business cases, budgets and delivery plans to support successful programmes and initiatives. A strong track record of building effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external partners. Creative, strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to assess complex issues, identify opportunities and support effective decision-making. An understanding of relevant government policies, priorities and policy-making processes, including the devolution framework and the respective roles of local government, central government and Parliament. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly to different audiences, including senior leaders, politicians, local authorities, central government and the public. The ability to manage competing priorities, work collaboratively with others and deliver high-quality work within deadlines. Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of experience in a transferable role.

Our values

Our values shape our culture and how we work with each other, our partners and the communities we serve. Lifting our region: We always put the long-term prosperity of the East Midlands region and its people first when carrying our roles and achieving strategic outcomes. Working together: We always challenge each other to be exceptional, embracing collaboration and acting to lift rather than win, working as one team. Making an impact: We always make decisions that are evidence led and which strengthen our region systemically. We hold ourselves to account for our actions. Being human: We always take pride in who we are and the diversity we bring, communicating authentically and showing genuine interest in one another.

Join us

If you are an experienced policy and programme professional who can combine strategic thinking with effective delivery and strong partnership working, and you want to help shape the growth of the East Midlands’ culture, creative and visitor economy, we would like to hear from you.

Closing date: 13/11/2026

Proposed interviews: 24/11/2026

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