Delivery Manager - Creative Places Growth Fund in Birmingham

West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is investing in the power of the creative economy to drive growth, opportunity and regeneration across our region. We are looking for a Delivery Manager to lead the end‑to‑end delivery of the Creative Places Growth Fund (CPGF) – a game‑changing £25 million programme designed to strengthen and grow the West Midlands’ creative industries over the next three years. The Delivery Manager will lead the successful commissioning, mobilisation and delivery of the Creative Places Growth Fund, ensuring outcomes are achieved through strong governance, effective partnership working and robust programme and financial management. You will work across WMCA teams, local authorities, industry partners, universities and the West Midlands Growth Company to ensure the programme delivers tangible, measurable impact. Many of the projects within the fund will be new to WMCA delivery, making this a highly influential role in shaping how we work, deliver and collaborate in this space.

Contract: Fixed‑term until 31st March 2029.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mobilisation and delivery of the Creative Places Growth Fund programme
• Ensure programme objectives are clearly defined and aligned to economic, social and creative growth outcomes
• Develop high‑quality, evidence‑based proposals, business cases, delivery plans and reports
• Apply project and programme management methodologies from design through to delivery and evaluation
• Coordinate cross‑functional activity to ensure effective, compliant and efficient delivery
• Oversee governance, legal, financial and risk management processes across the programme
• Monitor performance, manage risks and ensure issues are identified and resolved effectively
• Embed evaluation and learning into programme design to support continuous improvement
• Use data, insight and user‑centred approaches to inform decision‑making and innovation
• Produce high‑quality briefings, reports and presentations for senior leaders and external partners
• Manage delegated budgets, ensuring strong financial oversight, value for money and compliance
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, savings and improved investment impact
• Lead and support a team of up to five direct reports, including coaching, performance and development
• Build strong relationships across public, private and voluntary sector partners
• Represent WMCA at senior meetings, boards and external events
• Contribute to strategic communications, sharing impact and success stories across the region
• Maintain awareness of political, policy and regulatory developments relevant to the role

Essential Qualifications

• Proven experience of programme delivery and end‑to‑end management
• Experience of writing business cases, delivery plans, reports and evidence‑based proposals
• Line management experience and confidence leading teams
• Strong understanding of the culture and creative industries landscape
• Aware of political context, policy drivers and regulatory frameworks
• Excellent analytical, organisational and attention‑to‑detail skills
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Advanced IT skills, including MS Office for reporting, presentations and analysis
• Experience of managing budgets and financial processes effectively
• A collaborative, proactive approach to working across multiple partners and priorities

Location

The location for this role is Summer Lane with at least 2 days a week spent in the office.

Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK)
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme where you can build an additional pot of money alongside your pension with contributions exempt from Income Tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs)
• 28 days paid annual leave (with an option to purchase more) + statutory days
• EV car benefit scheme
• Healthcare plans
• Discounted gym membership, will writing, and mortgage advice
• An option to buy a bicycle, including e‑bikes and adapted pedal cycles, at a discounted rate
• 3 days of paid leave each year to volunteer
• Interest‑free financing through SmartTech to buy the latest technology
• Discounted shopping with over 2,000 big‑name retailers, and more
• You can now also obtain a Costco membership through the WMCA
• Boundless unlocks unlimited entry to top‑rated UK attractions and loads of extra benefits and discounts
• Eye Care Scheme, offering a free eye test and a financial contribution towards your glasses

Reasonable Adjustments

If you have an accessibility need, disability or condition that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process, please get in touch with our Recruitment Team.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are a Disability Confident Employer with ‘Leader’ status, committed to interviewing applicants with disabilities who meet all the essential role criteria. We are also proud to be a Ban the Box employer, which means we do not ask about criminal convictions at the initial application stage and will only ask after an offer is made. We recognise that certain groups, such as women and people of colour, may be less likely to apply for roles if they feel they do not meet all the requirements. However, we encourage individuals who are passionate about the role and want to make a difference to still apply. We value potential and encourage applicants to highlight their skills, including transferable ones, even if they don't fit the traditional “perfect candidate” mould.

Right to Work in the UK

Proof of Right to Work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements, before any employment offer can be confirmed. Non‑UK applicants (excluding Ireland) would be required to hold a relevant Visa from the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).