Responsible to the Interim Head of Policy, Partnerships and Public Affairs.
To ensure rural places, communities and businesses are embedded within a coherent, place‑based and outcome‑focused approach.
Secondment Opportunity / Fixed Term Contract to Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority
Organisation
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Partner Organisation
Cheshire & Warrington Combined Authority
Location
External Organisation - refer to advert text, Ellesmere Port
Job Category
Economic Development
Grade
CWAC NJC - Grade 12
Employment Type
Fixed Term
Contract Duration
12 months
Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.
This role provides strategic leadership and expertise on the rural economy, ensuring that rural places, communities and businesses are fully embedded within the Combined Authority’s growth strategy, policy development and investment decisions.
Working across the organisation and with external partners, the postholder will integrate rural insight, community intelligence and economic evidence into a coherent, place‑based approach to growth.
The role will ensure that rural considerations are systematically reflected in policy, programmes and funding decisions — shaping solutions that respond to the distinct opportunities and challenges of rural areas.
Operating at a system level, the Rural Economy Specialist will act as a bridge between rural stakeholders and decision‑makers, strengthening the evidence base, informing priorities and supporting the development of inclusive and sustainable growth across Cheshire and Warrington.
RESPONSIBILITIES the Rural Economy Specialist will…
- Act as the lead specialist adviser on the rural economy, ensuring rural priorities are reflected across strategies, plans and investment decisions
- Translate national and regional policy into practical, place‑based rural solutions
- Working with the wider CA, lead the development of a robust rural evidence base, integrating data, research and community insight into emerging CA platforms and approaches to inform decision‑making
- Support the design and development of growth programmes that work for rural areas, including business support, productivity, green growth, skills, transport, connectivity and infrastructure
- Identify and shape rural investment opportunities, including maximising external funding
- Lead early and ongoing engagement with rural communities, businesses and stakeholders to inform policy and programme design
- Establish feedback loops with rural stakeholders to test emerging proposals and strengthen policy development
- Act as a bridge between rural stakeholders and the Combined Authority, ensuring local intelligence, risks and opportunities are surfaced effectively
- Work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure rural issues are systematically integrated into decision‑making
- Contribute to reports, briefings and presentations for senior officers, members and partners
- Champion innovation and best practice in rural economic development
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Contribute to the development of the region’s investment pipeline and rural growth propositions
- Ensure policy and programmes reflect relevant national rural policy and funding frameworks
- Represent the organisation in regional and national rural and economic networks
- Support embedding rural considerations into long‑term governance, strategy and delivery
- Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as required
- This role will be hybrid and will require the ability to get around the subregion effectively to meet stakeholders
- This role requires you to undertake other duties, commensurate with the grade, as may reasonably be required and in line with organisational development and change
REQUIREMENTS the Rural Economy Specialist/Lead will…
- Have a degree in economics, economic geography, public policy, statistics or another relevant discipline (postgraduate qualification desirable).
- Strong experience in rural economic development, place‑based growth or related policy areas
- Proven understanding of the distinct challenges and opportunities facing rural economies
- Experience of working in partnership across public, private and community sectors
- Demonstrated experience of stakeholder or community engagement to shape policy, programmes or investment decisions
- Ability to influence, advise and work collaboratively in a complex organisational environment
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate rural issues for non‑specialist audiences
Desirable
- Experience working with or within local government, combined authorities or economic partnerships
- Knowledge of funding programmes relevant to rural growth, regeneration or business support
- Experience of Cheshire and Warrington or comparable rural/urban geographies
For an informal discussion about the role please contact Melissa Crellin by email to schedule a suitable time:
[email protected]
To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk
No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!
Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment. Please see the Equality Policy for more information.
Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £13.45 per hour for all contracted hours.
For any technical enquiries please email [email protected] and quote job reference number in all correspondence.
