Principal Policy Officer – Economic Strategy and Innovation in London

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies within the London Plan, regeneration, enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work. The Economic Strategy and Innovation team oversees the London Growth Plan, advising the GLA and the Mayor’s Office on growth, innovation policy and sector‑based opportunities across the capital.

About the Role

The role holder provides thought leadership on London’s innovation ecosystem, frontier innovation sectors, and innovation districts. Working closely with senior stakeholders across the GLA group, boroughs, government, corporate innovators and London’s universities, you will build strategic partnerships to unlock investment and support high‑potential clusters in life sciences, deep tech, and climate tech, reinforcing London’s status as a leading innovation city.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of key statutory and non‑statutory strategies and policies, including research, analysis, option appraisals and consultation.
• Develop policy to maximise the growth opportunities from innovation and interactions between technology and London’s growth sectors.
• Lead collaborations across the GLA group to maximise growth, inclusion and sustainability opportunities from innovation.
• Engage at a senior level with a wide variety of public and private stakeholders across frontier innovation sectors such as life sciences, climate tech, and quantum, representing the GLA in a variety of forums.
• Provide high‑quality client support for senior stakeholders in the GLA, including drafting timely responses to Mayoral questions, concise briefings, meeting management, representation at external events, and responding to the London Assembly’s scrutiny function.
• Promote and enable equality of opportunities, recognising the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.

Essential Criteria

• Demonstrable ability to develop expertise in economic development policy and strategy in a city government context.
• Proven experience in cross‑sector collaboration and programme management, influencing senior stakeholders.
• Evidence of working within the innovation and technology policy field, shaping strategy and influencing senior‑level decisions.

Behavioural Competencies

• Building and managing relationships – actively engage partners, manage partner relationships, adapt style for consensus, deliver objectives collaboratively.
• Communicating and influencing – present information clearly, influence and negotiate, synthesize viewpoints, advocate the GLA positively.
• Strategic thinking – translate vision into practical plans, consider wider implications, encourage long‑term thinking, identify gaps, inform strategy.
• Planning and organising – manage time and resources, monitor allocation, ensure evaluation, obtain stakeholder buy‑in, implement quality measures.
• Problem solving – clarify ambiguous problems, challenge status quo, seek diverse perspectives, initiate consultation, support innovative implementation.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

London’s diversity is its greatest asset. We are committed to an inclusive workforce and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, disability or other protected characteristics. The role is open to part‑time work and flexible arrangements and we encourage applications from under‑represented groups, including Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and disabled candidates.

Benefits

• Hybrid working – up to three days a week in office and remote.
• Competitive salary paid every four weeks.
• Benefits: 30 days of annual leave, interest‑free season ticket loan, interest‑free bicycle loan, and a career average pension scheme.