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Economic Policy & Partnerships Manager, ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
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Economic Policy & Partnerships Manager, ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA
Senior Economic Development and Local Partnerships Manager
Location: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Hours: 3 days a week in the borough, hybrid working
About the Role
Shape local economic policy and build lasting partnerships to deliver real opportunities for our community.
You will guide economic policy and local partnerships to foster an inclusive economy, connecting residents with sustainable skills and employment opportunities.
Our team is committed to transforming lives through strategic action—you’ll drive this mission forward.
Why This Role Matters
Every decision you make impacts our residents, balancing strategic vision with practical delivery. Whether dealing with policy development, stakeholder engagement, or program delivery, your work will create lasting, data-driven change for Kensington and Chelsea.
What You’ll Be Doing
This is a hands-on leadership role, blending strategic development, policy creation, and team management to deliver tangible outcomes. Your key responsibilities will include:
Core Responsibilities
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Lead; don’t just manage:
- Shape and deliver a clear strategic direction for a developing team, embedding high-quality outcomes and inclusive growth.
- Coach and build capability to enable the team to deliver outstanding work for local people.
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Oversee key economic and employment initiatives:
- Business engagement: Develop a new business support offer that meets local needs.
- Economic strategy: Refresh the Local Economy Strategy to reflect current opportunities and challenges.
- Team collaboration: Strengthen links with adult learning, expanding work experience opportunities and developing Intermediate Labour Market provision (e.g. supported employment programs).
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Manage complexities with agility:
- Navigate a diverse stakeholder landscape (council departments, businesses, voluntary organisations, national partners) while balancing multiple priorities.
- Produce joined-up, data-led recommendations to influence economic policy with fairness at its core.
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Champion measurable impact:
- Track performance rigorously, using insights to drive continuous improvement.
- Commission and influence contracts—securing outcomes, securing budgets, and securing growth.
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- Deliver in a high-pressure, fast-moving environment:
- Work alongside senior stakeholders and cross-council colleagues to create cohesive strategies.
- Balance strategic foresight with urgent operational needs—ensuring bold ambitions are realised today.
What You’ll Bring
You will be a direct, values-driven leader with a proven record in making economic development work.
Necessary Experience & Skills
- Domain expertise: Substantial experience in economical development, employment, skills, or place-based partnership—demonstrating practical impact.
- Strategy to delivery: Ability to translate complex plans into actionable, measurable outcomes.
- Relationship-building: Trusted networker with businesses, local/third-sector organisations, and public sectors—building lasting coalitions.
- Data-driven identity: Strong skills in data analysis, using insights to inform policy and decision-making.
- Team leadership: Approachable, inclusive leader who coaches and makes ambition stretch—growing capability not just output.
- Contracts & commercial awareness: Experience managing tenders, partnership contracts, and programme delivery.
- Handling scrutiny and intrusion: Expertise in political sensitivity—managing reputational risk while driving results.
Mindset & Qualities
- Inclusive everything: At every turn, community needs drive decisions. You communicate openly, fairly, and authentically.
- Integrity under pressure: Considerate, ethical beyond bureaucracy, and committed to fairness and equality.
- Collaborative drive: Ready to learn and develop new ways of working—open to partnership, not protection.
- Future-ready: Passionate about economical transformation; constantly adaptable with solutions-focussed problem-solving.
What You’ll Get From Us
Your energy, ambition, and hard work won’t go unnoticed.
Salary & Package
- Grade H: Salary competitive for your experience and dedication.
- Professional growth:
- Full access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD), networks, and instructional courses through RBKC memberships with:
- The Institute of Economic Development
- Institute of Employability Professionals
- Full access to Continuous Professional Development (CPD), networks, and instructional courses through RBKC memberships with:
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- Long-term development: mater opportunities for advancement in leadership and cross-council engagement.
Why RBKC?
- A thriving, collaborative culture: Fresh direction backed by proactive leadership—you’ll thrive among peers, mentors, and ambitious colleagues.
- Real impact: You’ll develop Something significant together, impacting strategic priorities and national discourse.
- Mission-driven work: Shape a new public service in a formative phase. Every effort counts.
About RBKC
Kensington and Chelsea is a parahead guardian of resilience—bringing diverse communities, thriving businesses, and places together. Our Council exists to deliver for people.
- Pride in actions: Delivering care, integrity, and innovation daily—listening to residents and staying true to inclusive values.
- Making it better: Investing in a greener, safer society, where fairness is not a buzzword but the essence.
- Rolling up sleeves: Bursts of urgency demand bold, nuanced responses. Flex your approach whether flipping policy documents or shaking hands in a local plac.
We’re open—we know talent comes from all backgrounds. RBKC welcomes applications from all sections of the community, and we realise difficult diversity.
Interview Details & Requirements
Interview date: 15th & 16th July 2026 (in person).
DBS check: Standard DBS required before starting.
Close & extension notice: We retain the right to close or extend this role without warning due to demand.
Ready to join us? If you share our values—to drive change and build something lasting—us! Apply explaining how you meet the requirements in the job description and person specification.
We are Disability Confident. Apply, stay comfortable, and share your strengths. We abolish barriers to entry.
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