**This role has been appointed to. Please do get in touch with us if you are looking for a similar senior role.**
Manchester is one of the UK’s leading regional cities, at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse and with a global footprint. In challenging times our ambitions remain undimmed – a Manchester fit for future generations; sustainable economic growth, a drive towards zero carbon, clean and safe transport, infrastructure that supports our growth ambitions, and place-based development that support sustainable communities with high quality amenity, open and green spaces and a strong and vibrant economy. Developing cutting edge policies that work is central to achieving our Vision.
In Manchester we confidently look outwards. We work with partners, share ideas, engage national leaders and always look to the future. We are a powerhouse of growth in Greater Manchester. Our city centre is the biggest contributor to GVA in GM while the Oxford Road Corridor is bringing new innovation to the city, Airport City is a growing £1bn development aimed at optimising close connections to Manchester Airport and the Northern Gateway will deliver 15,000 houses over the next decade.
While these are big headline developments, we are focused on ensuring we deliver on quality of life improvements including the clean air and zero carbon agenda. We’re working with TFGM to ensure transport within and across the region delivers those ambitions.. This covers programmes around bus routing and standards, better integration of active travel and modernising our highways systems. We are always determined to go further, do better and deliver more. Consultation on our plans is fundamental to shaping a future Manchester we all wish to see. The Our Manchester strategy describes our priorities. To maintain our leading role in the city and in local government, we need cutting edge ideas and policy that push the boundaries, whilst achieving real change. That’s where this role comes in.
Sitting at the heart of our growth ambitions, clean air and a zero-carbon future, this role connects and oversees policy and priorities across our environment, transport, infrastructure and the built environment. The Head of Infrastructure and Environment, (HIE) will understand the synergies across these agendas, bringing what many see as disparate and distinct issues together to build momentum towards a better future. This role will live and breathe the big ‘Manchester’ picture, creating coalitions of shared interests with like-minded partners, strengthening our relationships across Greater Manchester, to create a real-world paradigm shift in infrastructure delivery for the future of the city. The postholder will be a leading voice for the city.
This role is high profile, offering the chance to operate at scale and with the platform to make policy happen. As our new Head of Infrastructure and Environment, you’ll bring deep relevant policy development experience, knowledge and the insights to credibly lead these agendas. Whilst you may be a specialist in one of the key policy areas, you’ll also bring excellent knowledge and experience of working across diverse professional disciplines and a good working knowledge across the brief to move all relevant agendas forward. Importantly, you’ll have a track record of ensuring policies have an impact and deliver real change.
You’ll understand the idiosyncrasies, rhythms and strengths of local government and its leaders; will be passionate about change and will bring people with you. An excellent communicator and negotiator, who can engage government and communities in equal measure, demystifying complexity whilst using thought-provoking research and ideas to shape solutions. You will have worked with or close to senior local politicians, have experience of collaborating with diverse partners, stakeholders and policy makers at a regional and national level, will be hands-on, resilient and driven and capable of chairing senior working groups. When combined with positive relationships, excellent judgement, the capacity to influence and persuade and highly developed political antennae, you will be respected for your capacity to connect ideas, people and places around a shared path to a common future with appropriate governance, even when the going gets tough.
Whilst you might come from local government, consultancy, relevant areas of central government or NDPBs, research or HE, you will epitomise a new future for Manchester that puts people, the economy, the environment, and the built environment at the heart of all we do. You’ll know when to be robust, when to share and when to lead. You’ll be trusted for how you use your skills to focus on the future.
As a global city, we set the bar high. If you’re excited at the chance to join one of the most forward-thinking cities in the UK, bringing new ideas and a fresh approach, with a relentless focus on a better future, go to please view the links page and to find out more or speak to our advising consultants Mark Tobin on 07717 725 844 or Stephen Cooley on 07747 698 829 to get more insights.
At Manchester City Council, we strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. If you are invited to interview we will ask you if you require any adjustments in order for you to best demonstrate your suitability for the role in the interview process.
As part of our commitment to inclusion (read our Approach to EDI), we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
- Are currently in care, or have previously been in care.
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we provide support for employees with physical or mental-health conditions, a disability or neurodiversity. Our workplaces are accessible by design, and we make workplace adjustments including providing aids, adaptations and equipment. These, combined with our flexible working policies such as disability-related leave, enable our employees to perform their role, thrive and be their authentic selves in work.
