Full Time Program Director in Leeds

West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership Manager

Contract: Fixed Term

Salary: PO6 £51,356 - £54,495

Hours: 37

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions. This is an exciting time to join the newly formed West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, between all five West Yorkshire Local Authorities and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This position will sit within Leeds City Council as lead applicant for the partnership.

The Board is chaired by the Mayor of West Yorkshire and forms part of Visit England's new framework designed to support the tourism sector delivering on the West Yorkshire Destination Management Plan aimed at raising the profile of the region.

About you

As West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership Manager you will:

• Have inclusive and collaborative leadership skills with strong stakeholder management skills.
• Lead the delivery of a suite of visitor economy metrics for West Yorkshire, which are recorded monthly and annually to enable effective benchmarking with KPIs and identify and drive action plans and manage risks resulting from such monitoring.
• Act as the project lead ensuring that external funding opportunities from a national, regional and local level are capitalised upon for the benefit of the West Yorkshire regional visitor economy.
• Act as the Visitor Economy project lead working closely with Local authority tourism leads and the events leads in bidding for and delivering major world class events for the region.
• Work closely with the local authority tourism leads to plan and deliver a suite of campaigns that encourages visits from our target markets.
• Provide briefings for senior officers and politicians on matters relating to the West Yorkshire Visitor Economy and respond to enquiries from respective Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives, including via the Yorkshire Tourism Initiative.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to work as programme lead for the newly formed West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership, liaising with tourism leads from each of the local authorities and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to deliver the actions set out within the Destination Management Plan, whilst ensuring good governance and providing administrative support where necessary.

To be suitable for the role you need extensive tourism experience, with a good knowledge of local government process, and the new framework as set out by Visit England and Visit Britain. This role will be fast paced and require someone with excellent programme management skills.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Closing date: 30th July 2026

Sift w/c: 9th August 2026

Interviews w/c: 16th August 2026

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Belinda Eldridge, Head of Destination Marketing and International Relations at Leeds City Council or email belinda.

We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying.

To lead on the implementation and delivery of the Destination Management Plan for the West Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy partnership, which aims to increase national and international visitor numbers to the region, elevate the economic impact and business support for the tourism sector.

Lead the delivery of a suite of visitor economy metrics, which are recorded monthly and annually to enable effective benchmarking with KPIs and identify and drive action plans and manage risks resulting from such monitoring.

To act as the project lead ensuring that external funding opportunities from a national, regional and local level are capitalised upon for the benefit of the West Yorkshire regional visitor economy.

To act as the Visitor Economy project lead working closely with Local authority tourism leads and the events leads in bidding for and delivering major world class events for the region.

To work closely with the local authority tourism leads to plan and deliver a suite of campaigns that encourages visits from our target markets.

To provide briefings for senior officers and politicians on matters relating to the West Yorkshire Visitor Economy and respond to enquiries from respective Local Authority Leaders and Chief Executives via the Yorkshire Tourism Initiative.

Required

• Project management skills
• Ability to manage West Yorkshire stakeholders tasked with promoting West Yorkshire as a business and leisure tourism destination;
• Proven ability to formulate, action and monitor marketing strategies, promotional plans and projects to meet targets and deadlines;
• Ability to ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations, manage internal and external financial resources and deliver the Conference Desk to income target;
• A creative and considered approach;
• An enabling and collaborative attitude to partnership working and stakeholder management;

Knowledge Required

• Educated to degree level in a relevant field such as Travel and Tourism;

Experience Required

• Considerable years experience of conference desk delivery, sales and income management including delivery of KPIs;
• Considerable years experience of managing, motivating and developing staff in order to deliver a high quality service;
• Experience of working with other public and private sector partners and stakeholders providing tourism related services at a local, sub-regional, national and international level;
• Experience of leading on multi-agency tourism projects;
• Experience of using statistical research, analysis and interpretation to inform strategy and project plans.

Behavioural & other Characteristics required

• Demonstrate the Leeds City Council managers' habits to a high standard
• Sound professional and diplomatic judgement based on experience and personal resourcefulness
• An inclusive approach and a commitment to equality and diversity
• Contributes to own health and wellbeing and promotes the health, safety and wellbeing of others
• Commitment to their own continuing professional development and that of others in the team.
• In depth understanding of the role and remit of local government in relation to the visitor economy and tourism management.

Basis: Full Time