Head of Economic Policy and Innovation

Join us in this senior strategic leadership role and be responsible for shaping and driving EMCCA’s economic and innovation policy agenda. Working closely with teams across EMCCA and with key partners, it will be your remit to deliver shared regional objectives.

Welcome to EMCCA. At the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), we are unlocking billions of pounds of investment for our region through our devolution deal with the government. Our elected Mayor is a powerful voice on the national stage for the people of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, overseeing devolved powers around transport, housing, skills and adult education, economic development, and net zero. We will make our region more prosperous, sustainable, and fairer, helping our people and businesses to create and seize opportunities. EMCCA’s overall work programme is evolving, ambitious and focused on the future to deliver tangible, sustainable, lasting, and systemic change for all our communities.

Your role in elevating the East Midlands:

• Reporting directly to the Director of Economic Growth and Innovation, it will be your remit to evolve our East Midlands Growth Plan and mayoral priorities into coherent policy frameworks, high-quality bids and compelling business cases that secure funding, mobilise investment and deliver systemwide impact.
• This will involve significant partnership working across local government, universities, innovation assets, business, and national agencies, to ensure all strategies, programmes and investments are coordinated and mutually beneficial.
• You will need to be able to lead both vertically and horizontally across the organisation, ensuring the service area operates effectively, efficiently and with clear strategic purpose.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and implementation of EMCCA’s economic and innovation policy agenda and the provision of clear strategic leadership, robust governance, advice to the Mayor and EMCCA Board.
• Leading the development of high-quality bids, business cases and projects, working across EMCCA and with partners to secure funding from national funding bodies, while leveraging private investment.
• Building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with key partners—including local authorities, universities, developers, business networks, and national agencies.
• Delivering clear economic impact by shaping policy and investment priorities that secure funding, crowding private capital, strengthen key sectors and innovation ecosystems, create good jobs, and improve the long-term productivity and resilience of the East Midlands economy.
• Leading the development and implementation of the East Midlands Innovation Priorities Framework.
• Convening and supporting a coordinated network of partners, aligning local authorities, universities, innovation assets and national bodies around shared strategic goals to deliver a coherent regional investment.
• The provision of strategic advice to the Mayor, Chief Executive, senior leaders and EMCCA stakeholders, drawing on market intelligence, sector trends, partner feedback and policy developments to support effective regional decision making.
• Identifying gaps, duplication or barriers within the innovation system and working with partners to improve coordination and impact.
• Convening and supporting the Innovation Advisory Board and Business Advisor Board, providing high-quality agendas, papers, advice, and follow-through of actions to enable effective strategic oversight and decision-making.

Your profile:

• A degree or equivalent relevant experience and demonstrable post qualification CPD to maintain professional development.
• A proven track record of leading economic policy, innovation or strategic economic development functions within a combined authority, local government, government body or similarly complex organisation.
• Extensive experience shaping and delivering economic or innovation strategies at a regional or national level, with a strong understanding of how policy, funding and delivery mechanisms combine to drive productivity, inclusive growth and economic resilience.
• Proven ability to develop high-quality, evidence-based business cases and funding proposals, translating policy priorities into compelling propositions that secure public funding and support investment in regional priorities.
• Strong partnership‑building skills, with a track record of establishing trusted relationships across local government, national agencies, private sector leaders, universities, and developers to deliver joined‑up investment activity.
• Proven track record of leading, managing and motivating teams, providing clear direction, support and accountability to deliver high‑quality outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, market intelligence and economic trends to inform strategic decisions.
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex political and multi‑stakeholder environment, exercising sound judgement, diplomacy and influence.

To play a critical part in delivering change across the region, helping to improve the East Midlands for generations to come, please apply by visiting this link or email us at emcca@osbornethomas.org for more information.

Closing date: 1st June 2026.

NB - this is a politically restricted post as designated under the LGHA and any subsequent amendment. As such, you may not have any active political role either in or outside of work.

For more details on EMCCA including our rewards and benefits, please visit: this link.