Position: Service Director – Economy, Property and Regeneration (Interim)
Location: Floor 2, Gateshead Council Civic Centre, NE8 1HH
Start Date: ASAP, with the scheduled start date of 7 September 2026
Contract Duration: Temporary contract until 2 November 2026
Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm
Pay Rate: £53.28 per hour
Job Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership across economy, property and regeneration services
- Support the Council's strategic direction and delivery of its Thrive agenda
- Lead economic development, business growth and inward investment activity
- Develop and deliver regeneration, property and infrastructure strategies aligned with Council priorities
- Oversee the strategic management, development and modernisation of Council property assets
- Lead major regeneration programmes, capital projects and funding portfolios
- Identify, secure and manage external funding from regional, national and international sources
- Build effective partnerships with businesses, developers, funders, regional bodies and key stakeholders
- Represent Gateshead Council on relevant external partnerships and regional bodies
- Provide strategic advice and high-quality reports to Elected Members, senior leaders and stakeholders
- Lead workforce, budget, asset and performance management across the service, including effective Trade Union engagement
- Ensure robust risk management, business continuity, policy development and performance frameworks
- Deputise for the Strategic Director when required
- Support service transformation and organisational priorities across the Council
Requirements:
Must-Have Requirements:
- Recognised professional qualification relevant to the role, or extensive equivalent senior leadership experience
- Significant senior-level experience in economic development, property, regeneration or a related field
- Current knowledge of national, regional and local economic development policy
- Strong strategic leadership experience across complex, multidisciplinary services
- Proven experience of leading transformational change and major programmes
- Experience of securing and managing external funding and delivering high-value capital projects
- Strong partnership-building skills with businesses, developers, funders, regional organisations and other stakeholders
- Excellent commercial, influencing and negotiation skills
- Strong communication and political awareness
- Experience of advising and supporting Elected Members and managing consultation processes
Nice-to-Have Requirements:
- Experience within local government or a comparable public-sector environment
- Experience of leading large-scale regeneration and economic growth programmes
- Experience of managing significant property portfolios and strategic assets
- Knowledge of cross-boundary economic and regeneration issues
Job Reference: 5303938
Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Pay: £53.28 per hour
Application question(s):
- Please provide an example of a major transformational change programme or strategic project you have led. What were the outcomes?
- What experience do you have securing and managing external funding from regional, national, or international sources?
- Please describe your experience delivering high-value capital projects, regeneration programmes, or major infrastructure projects.
- Are you able to demonstrate strong commercial, influencing, negotiation, communication, and political awareness skills? Please provide a brief example.
- Please confirm that you are able to work from Gateshead Council Civic Centre, NE8 1HH, as required for this interim assignment.
Experience:
- economic development: 2 years (required)
- property, regeneration: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
