Assistant Director of Business Growth and Inward Investment

Shape Growth and Investment in the North East

The North East is entering a bold new era. With a newly elected Mayor, an ambitious economic vision, and devolved powers to drive prosperity, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) is poised to transform how we support businesses, attract investment, and empower inclusive growth.

About the Role:

As Assistant Director, you will be at the forefront of economic development in one of the UK's six priority growth areas. You'll lead the strategic overhaul of the region's economic landscape, uniting seven local authorities behind a cohesive regional model. You will be NECA's senior voice to investors and the business community, forging critical relationships locally, nationally and internationally, including our strategic partnership with the UK's Office for Investment (one of only two such arrangements in the country).

You'll develop and deliver a bold inward investment strategy, work alongside the Mayor and Cabinet, and oversee relationships that stretch from local authorities to global investors. This role also includes leading our international offer, working with the Department of Business and Trade and national partners to attract inward investment from around the world. You'll provide leadership to a small skilled central team focused on investment and growth, ensuring alignment with regional priorities and delivering measurable impact.

A central part of this role is championing the foundational economy, the services and sectors that underpin our communities and support everyday life. The Mayor has made this a top priority, and your leadership will be key in ensuring that our business growth strategy values and invests in this critical part of the economy. This includes a strong emphasis on supporting diverse and female-led businesses, listening to the region's business voices, and making sure our plans deliver inclusive prosperity for every part of the North East.

About You

We're looking for a leader who is strategic, outward-facing and hands-on. You'll have experience in business growth or inward investment, with a strong track record of working across complex stakeholder environments. You'll bring the credibility and agility to build trust, challenge established ways of working and find common ground to make progress. Whether your background is in local government, the private sector or a business support organisation, what matters most is your ability to collaborate, innovate, build credibility and deliver economic change.

You'll be someone who brings energy, ambition and integrity to your work. You'll be used to working at pace, juggling priorities, and delivering results that matter and, like us, you'll care deeply about the future of the North East and be driven by a genuine commitment to making a lasting difference for its people, places and businesses.

For a confidential conversation about this role with our retained advisors at Tile Hill, please contact: Chantelle Wooldridge (, ), Clare Connor (, ) or Dylan Craven (, ).