Economic Development Senior Manager (Job Number: 26001039)
Research and Innovation Services
Grade 8: - £47,389 - £56,535 per annum
Open-Ended/Permanent - Full Time
Contracted Hours per Week: 35
Closing Date: 08-Sep-2026, 5:59:00 PM
Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.
The University
At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other. We believe that inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham enables Durham people to do outstanding things professionally and personally.
Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally.
We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University.
The Role and Department
The Economic Development Senior Manager is a managerial position within the University’s Commercialisation, Economic Development & Policy (CEDP) team, which sits within the Research and Innovation Services (RIS) Directorate. The post will report to the Head of Sector & Place Development and will work closely with professional services colleagues across CEDP and RIS, as well as senior colleagues in faculties, academic departments and wider University teams.
Durham University is a significant driver of economic growth for County Durham, the North East and the UK. In its last economic impact evaluation, Durham University generated £1.9 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) and 17,320 jobs in the UK, including £668 million GVA and 10,790 jobs in the North East. The current University Strategy sets out an ambition to deliver still greater impact and to play a key role as an anchor institution: translating emerging research and development, influencing policy, supporting priority sectors and enhancing our commercialisation and income generation opportunities.
The Economic Development team helps Durham University apply its research, knowledge exchange, skills and innovation strengths to economic opportunities. It provides targeted support for major projects, investment propositions, skills initiatives and external relationships that deliver economic, intellectual and financial value to the University and its partners.
The Economic Development Senior Manager will lead and support a portfolio of activity focused on economic development, business and industry engagement, investment propositions, strategic partnerships and fundable opportunities. Working with academic, professional services, civic, public sector, further education and industry partners, the postholder will help develop shared priorities, coordinate collaborative programmes and shape business cases and bids aligned to regional and national economic priorities.
The role will have responsibility for supporting sector skills activity where this is directly linked to economic development priorities, including identifying opportunities to align the University’s education, research and innovation strengths with business and industry needs in priority sectors. The postholder will also contribute to place-based programmes, regional innovation ecosystem development, investment pipeline activity and strategic proposals where Durham’s capabilities can support local and regional economic transformation.
The Economic Development Senior Manager will also support the development of staff, including at least one direct report. They will contribute to continuous improvement across Economic Development service delivery, processes, governance and reporting, ensuring the team provides a coordinated, professional and high-impact service to internal and external stakeholders.
The Location
The base location for this role is Boldon House, our exciting new professional services hub. Boldon House is situated on the outskirts of Durham near the Arnison Centre in Pity Me. Boldon House brings a number of professional services teams together in a vibrant office environment which supports collaborative working and is designed to embrace hybrid working. To find out more, visit the project webpage: Boldon House – Durham University.
Further information about the role and the responsibilities is at the bottom of this job description.
Working at Durham
A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:
- You’ll receive 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
- We offer a generous pension scheme, and as a new member of staff you will be automatically enrolled into the University Superannuation Scheme (USS).
- No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have ample parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies. You can also take advantage of our cost-effective and environmentally friendly Tusker Car Benefit Scheme, allowing you to lease a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle with savings on tax and National Insurance.
- We have a genuine commitment to developing our colleagues professionally and personally. There is a comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications and routes to develop your career in the University. All staff have dedicated annual time to concentrate on their personal development opportunities.
- We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
- Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
- Our family-friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
- We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference in the local community.
- You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
- Various salary sacrifice schemes are also available to help you take advantage of tax savings on benefits.
- If you are moving to Durham, you may be eligible for help with removal costs, and we have a dedicated team who can help you with the practicalities such as house hunting and schools. If you need a visa, we cover most visa costs and offer an interest-free loan scheme to pay for dependant visas.
Durham University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion
Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work. As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University’s Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive.
We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.
What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification
When you apply it is important that you let us know what skills/experience you have from a similar role and/or what skills/experience you have which would make you right for this role. Further information about the role and responsibilities is at the end of this job description. Where a criteria has an asterisk* next to it, it may be given additional weighting when your application is considered.
Your application should cover the following criteria:
Essential Criteria
1. Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience).
2. Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally.
3. Professional practitioner with specialist expertise in economic development, including business and industry engagement, high-growth sectors, place-based partnerships and/or regional innovation ecosystems.
4. Experience of supporting skills, employment or talent-related activity where this is aligned to economic development priorities, sector growth or business and industry needs.
5. Knowledge and understanding of high-growth sectors and regional innovation ecosystems and how universities can contribute to economic growth through research, innovation, skills and partnership activity.
6. Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior academic, professional services, civic, public sector and/or industry partners.
7. Experience of building and maintaining productive internal and external networks, using these relationships to share intelligence, develop collaborative opportunities and positively influence organisational reputation.
8. Experience of contributing to the development of strategic proposals, business cases, funding applications or partnership programmes involving multiple stakeholders.
9. Project and programme management experience applied across a multi-disciplinary project team or diverse portfolio of activity.
10. Ability to contribute to planning at operational and strategic levels, including the ability to identify priorities, assess opportunities and develop practical routes to delivery.
11. Strong digital competence across a range of digital systems, devices and applications used to manage projects, data and stakeholder information, including Microsoft 365.
12. Committed to continuing professional development and maintaining awareness of relevant policy, funding and economic development agendas.
Desirable Criteria
1. Knowledge of the UK and North East devolution, skills, innovation and/or sector policy landscape, including Industrial Strategy and Local Growth Plans.
2. Experience of working with pre-award, post-award or programme governance processes for economic development, innovation or skills-related activity
3. Experience of working with local or combined authorities, universities, government departments, industry, sector bodies or regional partnerships.
4. Experience of developing skills, education or employment-related initiatives aligned to economic development or priority industry needs.
5. Experience of developing, implementing or improving processes, procedures or ways of working that support effective partnership development, project development, funding pipeline management, governance or service improvement.
6. Experience of digital higher-education platforms e.g. Worktribe
7. Project or programme management qualification, or equivalent experience e.g. PRINCE2
How to apply
To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. It will be at the discretion of the recruiting panel as to whether they will also consider any desirable criteria, but we would urge candidates to provide evidence for all criteria. Please don’t forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).
While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.
Submitting your application
We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points throughout the selection process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to make sure you have not missed any of our updates.
What you need to submit
- A CV: and
- A supporting statement which outlines how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification.
- A personal case study demonstrating your how your specialist expertise in economic development has helped deliver place, sector, innovation and/or skill related impact (Max 500 words)
Contact details
For a chat about the role or any further information please contact Neil Bhandary (Head of Sector & Place Development):
[email protected].
Typical Role Requirements
Service Delivery/Development
- Develop and apply an in-depth understanding of University strategy, regional economic policy, devolution, skills, innovation and sector priorities when carrying out the role.
- Use professional economic development expertise to shape place-based investment propositions that connect Durham’s research, knowledge exchange, education and innovation strengths to regional and national economic priorities.
- Support and coordinate sector skills activity, working with University stakeholders and external partners to identify opportunities to address priority sector skills needs.
- Contribute to the development of strategic proposals, funding applications and business cases by providing economic, place, skills, partnership, governance and regional fit narratives.
- Support the development and management of the Economic Development opportunity pipeline, helping to assess strategic fit, identify partners, clarify ownership and route opportunities to relevant teams.
- Work with RIS and academic colleagues to ensure that economic development opportunities are coordinated, deliverable and aligned with University and partner priorities.
- Look for ways to continually improve the Economic Development service, including clearer processes for opportunity intake, stakeholder coordination, project development and reporting.
- Ensure data (commercially sensitive and/or personal) is appropriately stored and managed.
- Contribute to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University’s values.
Planning and Organisation
- Contribute to the development of operational and strategic plans for the Economic Development team, with particular focus on place-based programmes and investment propositions.
- Coordinate and support relevant steering groups, working groups and partnership forums, ensuring that actions, decisions, risks and opportunities are captured and progressed.
- Analyse stakeholder feedback, regional industry needs and economic development opportunities, making recommendations for future activity.
- Support the preparation of reports, briefings, business cases and portfolio updates for senior managers, committees and external partners.
Team Development
- Manage and develop the people, performance and resources of relevant team members to ensure that a professional economic development service is provided.
- Help shape the skills and expertise needed across the Economic Development team by supporting recruitment, induction, training and workload planning.
- Ensure that direct report(s) understand their responsibilities and are able to contribute effectively to economic development activity.
- Carry out regular performance reviews, provide feedback on objectives and expectations, and identify development needs for your direct report(s).
- Handle most HR issues and support the welfare and wellbeing of your team, referring more complex issues to specialist services or more senior managers.
Communication/Liaison
- Build and sustain an influential network of contacts, both internally and externally, including academic faculties, professional services teams, local and combined authorities, further education providers, regional sector bodies, government agencies and industry partners.
- Represent the Economic Development team and the University at external meetings, events, working groups and partnership forums, contributing to presentations and promoting Durham’s role as an anchor institution.
- Convene internal University stakeholders to develop initiatives that can deliver regional economic impact, attract investment, support priority sectors and strengthen Durham’s contribution to place-based growth.
- Influence University policy, standards and governance by leading or contributing to operational meetings, working groups and sub-committees relevant to economic development, skills and place-based partnerships.
- Provide professional guidance and advice to colleagues and partners on economic development opportunities, partnership models, skills initiatives, funding routes and strategic fit.
- Identify opportunities that increase academic participation in regional economic development initiatives.
