Director of Place & Growth

Interim Director of Place & Growth

Day Rate: £1,000 per day (Inside IR35)
Contract: 12 months
Location: South London (Hybrid)
Start: ASAP

 

Role Overview

The Interim Director of Place & Growth will provide strategic leadership across the council’s full Place agenda during a period of organisational shift and increased demand. This role requires an experienced senior leader who has previously operated at Director or Assistant Director level within local government and can bring immediate stability, strategic challenge and delivery focus.

The postholder will oversee the council’s growth, regeneration and place‑shaping priorities, strengthen partnerships with regional and national stakeholders, and drive improvements across key service areas including economic development, regeneration, skills and employment, and transport/highways. Planning will require strategic oversight rather than operational intervention.

This is not a step‑up role — the council requires a proven, credible senior Place professional capable of operating at pace.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Place-Shaping

• Lead the development and delivery of the council’s Place & Growth strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities.
• Provide clear strategic direction across economic development, regeneration, town‑centre initiatives, skills and employment.
• Shape and promote a compelling vision for the borough’s long‑term growth and place identity.

Economic Development & Growth

• Drive economic growth, business engagement, inward investment and job creation.
• Strengthen relationships with the business community, investors, developers and regional bodies.
• Lead the development of growth programmes, town centre strategies and local regeneration frameworks.

Regeneration & Towns Initiatives

• Oversee major regeneration projects, ensuring programmes are delivered on time and within expected outcomes.
• Support the delivery of Towns Fund/Future High Streets/Levelling Up‑related initiatives.
• Ensure regeneration activity is commercially sound, community‑focused and strategically aligned.

Highways, Transport & Infrastructure

• Provide strategic challenge and oversight of highways/transport functions.
• Drive modernisation, efficiency and improved ways of working across highways and infrastructure services.
• Ensure highways activity supports broader growth, regeneration and place ambitions.

Planning (Strategic Oversight Only)

• Provide assurance and strategic direction to planning services as they operate in a steady‑state environment.
• Support effective alignment of planning policy with growth and regeneration priorities.

Skills & Employment

• Lead a coordinated approach to skills, training and employment programmes in partnership with education providers and employers.
• Ensure local residents benefit from economic change and regeneration activity.

Partnerships & Devolution

• Work closely with Government departments, LEPs, regional bodies, combined authorities and major institutions.
• Represent the council in regional networks and support devolution‑related activity where required.

Organisational Improvement & Cultural Change

• Drive performance, culture and service improvement across Place functions.
• Embed best practice, robust governance, programme management discipline and accountability.
• Lead and support senior managers, creating a collaborative, forward‑looking culture.

Corporate Leadership

• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team.
• Provide clear advice to Members, Executive and corporate boards.
• Ensure risks are identified, managed and mitigated effectively.

 

Person Specification

Essential Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience at Director/Assistant Director level in local government Place portfolios.
• Strong background in economic development, regeneration, growth programmes and town centre initiatives.
• Ability to challenge and modernise highways/transport delivery.
• Experience working within complex political environments and advising senior Members.
• Proven track record of driving cultural and operational improvement.
• Experience working with regional partners, combined authorities and Government.
• Strong stakeholder management and partnership‑building skills.

Desirable Experience

• Devolution or local government reorganisation experience.
• Delivery of large capital and infrastructure programmes.
• Skills and employment programme leadership.

 

Behaviours & Leadership Style

• Strategic, politically astute and confident operating at the highest levels.
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Collaborative, engaging and able to build trust quickly across teams and partners.
• Highly delivery‑focused with the ability to stabilise, prioritise and execute at pace.