The closing date has been extended to 11/04/2025
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Inward Investment Lead to join Powys. Working closely with the HoS and team of directors across a wide range of issues, a core inward investment background is required but also a broad skill set and a willingness to get stuck in beyond their immediate area of expertise on novel and fast paced programmes. This role involves a combination of local authority, business and Government partners focused on creating jobs, boosting skills, and accelerating the region’s commitment to decarbonisation and Net Zero through for example low carbon energy investments.
At the heart of this post will be maximising the potential growth of Powys.
Powys encompassing 25% of Wales’ land mass and strategically located across the spine of Wales. There is significant room for growth across the county for accelerating regeneration, increasing skills, and training opportunities and helping drive growth. We are looking to capitalise and innovate on the region’s rural, commercial and industrial strengths, including advanced manufacturing, automotive, nature based economies, logistics and energy.
We are committed to attracting global investment, growing our existing companies and innovation in region thus driving up skills and employment.
Our primary objective is to grow investment into the region – with a particular focus on collaboration with partners. The development of our investment strategy is critical. The Inward Investment Lead would be responsible for this – working closely with the Head of Service and Corporate Leadership Team to realise Powys' potential. Lead on development and implementation of credible action plan for attracting investment.
Lead on development of our “investor pitch”, working closely with partners as well as regional inward investment partners and our landowners to ensure we are making the most powerful case and tailoring our story depending on the investor/ sector.
Build up a detailed understanding and database of our “offer”
Seek opportunities to amplify our message via regional and national partnerships.
Support the HoS, and participate in, specific trade and investment events.
Develop an efficient “investor journey” working with wider colleagues – ensuring that opportunities are shared fairly between the breadth of Powys
Develop interest from investors and help to identify their requirements and answer their queries promptly.
Working alongside existing investors providing a “value-added / wrap-around” service. For example, helping to connect them with regional partners on skills/ research & innovation schemes; and/or helping to remove any pain points for them, drawing on support from public bodies including central Government. Overall, ensure investors experience a world-class service
Manage external contracts as required on trade and investment support e.g. potentially with regional inward investment partners and around “placemaking”
Monitoring and evaluation activities back into the Senior Leadership.
This is a challenging and high-profile role, requiring a broad and strong skill-set. As part of a small team, you will need to show initiative and be confident working with a fair degree of autonomy. We are also looking for people who can work effectively as part of a team and are willing to “muck in” to help get drive economic investment in Powys.
In particular, you will be: - Experienced working in inward investment and in managing investor relations - Confident with high profile and demanding investors – operating with honestly, credibility and a grip on the detail - Strong at partnership working with senior stakeholders across the public and private sector, brokering deals between multiple parties and leveraging maximum support through partner organisations .
Focussed on delivering results and getting deals over the line, prioritising your time effectively given the limited resources available. - Highly skilled in written and oral communication, including preparing papers for Boards and presenting at conferences / investor pitches.
Some sectoral and/or regional experience is useful, and you will need to be able quickly to get up to speed in new fields and operate credibly with sector experts. We are also interested in candidates with a commercial property development background although this is not a pre-requisite.
The successful candidate will also manage strategic partnerships, including the Marches Forward Partnership and River Severn Valley Partnership, ensuring integrated delivery and effective resource management.