Corporate Affairs and Impact Director
Greater Manchester (GM) continues to be one of the UK’s leading growth success stories, powered by strong economic performance, exceptional productivity, and world‑class inward investment. With enhanced devolution powers and a renewed focus on the 10‑year Growth Pipeline, MIDAS is entering an exciting new chapter under the Invest Manchester brand.
We are seeking an experienced Corporate Affairs and Impact Director to join our MIDAS Senior Management Team (SMT) and help steer this transformation. Working closely with the Managing Director (MD), Business Development Directors, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), and our international partners, you will play a central role in delivering GM’s investment ambitions.
In this pivotal position, you will lead key corporate partnerships, operations, and analytical functions. You will also ensure the organisation demonstrates its impact on economic growth. A major early priority will be supporting organisational change as Invest Manchester scales its activity throughout the coming year, ensuring clarity, alignment, and confidence across teams.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Support the MD to drive performance and embed company values.
2. Shape strategic direction for Invest Manchester with senior leaders and Marketing Manchester.
3. Work with Business Development teams to align campaigns and investor engagement to GM and GC priorities.
4. Strengthen organisational culture, partnering with HRBP on learning, development, digital skills and AI.
5. Ensure inward investment aligns with GM priorities through collaboration with GMCA, GC, public and private partners, and sector forums.
6. Alongside the Head of Partnerships expand networks across local authorities, enterprise agencies, and international partners.
7. Alongside Business Development Director provide key account management of international companies and build relationships with investment champions.
8. Oversee inbound delegations, investment events and international engagement.
9. Define KPIs and lead development of automated performance dashboards.
10. Provide strategic leadership to the analytical team across research, impact evaluation and CRM/AI.
11. Support the secretariat of the International Marketing Advisory Board activity with Marketing Manchester.
12. Line manage the Operations Manager to ensure high‑quality reporting to the MD and stakeholders.
13. Work with MD, Finance, GMCA and Marketing Manchester on budgeting and medium‑term financial planning.
14. Support organisational change, acting as a trusted advisor to ensure alignment across teams.
15. Translate strategic direction into clear transition roadmaps and decision‑ready options for MD and CEO approval.
About You:
You are a values‑driven leader with a proven ability to operate at a strategic level, ideally within complex public‑private environments. You bring credibility, neutrality, and sound judgement, with the ability to build trust across senior stakeholders. Calm under pressure and highly collaborative, you have a passion for shaping organisational culture and driving impactful change.
You will thrive in this role if you are motivated by making a meaningful contribution to regional economic growth and are excited by the opportunity to help position Greater Manchester as a global investment destination.
16. Significant experience in strategic leadership and organisational development.
17. Proven delivery in public‑private or economic development environments.
18. Strong track record in line management and building positive, inclusive cultures.
19. Operating model design, change governance, benefits management, KPIs, and CRM/insight‑led reporting.
20. An understanding of national and regional policy frameworks and economic growth priorities.
21. Independent, impartial, calm, and values‑led.
Skills Required:
22. Demonstrable impact in public policy, working across public and private sector stakeholders.
23. Strategic experience in corporate affairs or corporate performance, operating with neutrality and trust.
24. Strong understanding of research, analysis, and communicating impact.
25. High emotional intelligence with transparent communication skills.
26. Knowledge of public private investment and inward investment environments.
27. Experience within Government or a Combined Authority setting.
28. Knowledge of economic development, policy formulation, and senior business engagement.
29. Experience in foreign direct investment, place promotion, or sector led investment activity.
30. Familiarity with Greater Manchester’s stakeholder landscape, including GMCA, GC, and private sector partners.
We are currently unable to provide sponsorship for work permits or visas. Therefore, we can only consider candidates who already have the legal right to work in the UK.
Artificial intelligence can assist you during the application process, but every example and statement you include must be honest, accurate, and based on your own real experiences. If plagiarism is detected, meaning you present someone else’s ideas or experiences, or AI‑generated content, as your own, your application may be withdrawn, and internal applicants could face disciplinary action.
At GC, safeguarding the welfare of all individuals including vulnerable adults and young people is a top priority, and we expect all staff to uphold this standard. All appointments follow Safer Recruitment Procedures, including a DBS check carried out by Due Diligence Limited (DDC Ltd), at no cost to the successful candidate.
Please note: It is a legal offence to apply for a role involving regulated activity if you are on the Barred List.
We are committed to increasing workforce diversity and offer a guaranteed interview to applicants who meet the essential criteria and either have a disability or are from a diverse ethnic community.
If this applies to you, you can request consideration under this scheme during the application process. Your request will be shared only with the Hiring Manager and Internal Recruitment Team.