Assistant Director City Development
Location: Cardiff, UK
Type: Permanent
Published: 8 Jun 2026
About the Job
Economic development plays an essential part in the city's economic growth and prosperity, with key growth sectors including financial services, life sciences, fintech, creative and cultural industries, hospitality and leisure, and advanced manufacturing. Cardiff is a leading investment location among the UK Core Cities and an important tourist and visitor destination, attracting high‑profile sporting, cultural and music events to support the city's economy. This is an opportunity to lead a new City Development Service within a leading public sector organisation with 15,000 employees delivering over 700 individual services to over 362,000 residents. A recent independent peer review found that Cardiff Council is a “good and ambitious Council” with a “can‑do and optimistic” culture. You will be responsible for leading a new service within the newly formed Development and Growth Directorate covering the following services: business development; inward investment, tourism, city centre management, economic policy, culture, sport and leisure, Cardiff City Region, UK city partnerships and securing and managing external grants.
Responsibilities
* Lead the City Development Service within the Development and Growth Directorate.
* Oversee and grow business development, inward investment and tourism initiatives.
* Manage city centre operations and economic policy initiatives.
* Drive culture, sport, and leisure programmes in collaboration with partners.
* Represent Cardiff City Region and UK city partnership relationships.
* Secure and manage external grants to support development activities.
* Deliver on the Council’s strategic agenda for a “Stronger, Fairer, Greener” Cardiff.
* Ensure compliance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and related legislation.
What We Are Looking For From You
* Creative, experienced and accomplished manager with an appetite for cross‑boundary work and innovative solutions.
* Excellent stakeholder management skills to foster and build credible, lasting relationships.
* Strategic thinker able to lead and develop complex organisational issues.
* Confident communicator who is politically astute and can establish effective professional relationships quickly.
* Ability to work across a range of stakeholders and partners.
* Experience in economic development, business growth or related sectors is preferred.
* Technical skills and managerial capacity to support the Council’s political leadership in delivering an ambitious policy agenda.
* Politically restricted appointment in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended).
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