Join Team UofG as Head of Economic Development Projects – Shape the Future of Economic Growth

Are you ready to lead transformative initiatives at the heart of one of the UK’s most ambitious economic development agendas and at a world top-100 University? Our Economic Development Directorate is offering an exceptional opportunity for a skilled leader to become Head of Economic Development Projects— a strategic and high-impact role where your ideas will help shape institutional, local and national priorities.

As a senior figure within the organisation, you'll provide specialist leadership across a dynamic portfolio of economic development and innovation projects. You’ll guide major initiatives, advise senior stakeholders including the Vice Principal and Directorate Leadership Team, and spearhead new, game-changing economic development investment opportunities with real-world impact.

Your influence will include:

·         Steering strategic economic development programmes such as the Innovation Accelerator and Investment Zone, and the University’s participation in other high-impact opportunities.

·         Crafting compelling investment and business case proposals for government, industry, and GRID (Glasgow Riverside Innovation District) partners.

·         Aligning projects with long-term institutional goals and performance strategies.

·         Championing sustainable economic development that delivers tangible benefits for the University, communities and industries alike.

This is more than a leadership role—it’s your chance to be a catalyst for change in an environment that values bold thinking, impact and collaborative action.

​

Job Purpose

This role will provide strategic leadership and specialist support for delivering a growing portfolio of economic development projects. The post holder will manage existing projects and advise senior leaders, including the Vice Principal and Directorate Leadership team on developing new, high-profile impact and economic development investment initiatives. Responsibilities include creating compelling investment proposals for government, industry, and Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) partners; and bring expertise to the execution of major programmes across the institution, like the Innovation Accelerator and Investment Zone, while ensuring alignment with strategic plans, the directorate’s performance reporting, and our ambitions to drive sustainable economic development locally and nationally.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Design, drive and execute a number of economic development-led strategic projects where cross-institutional leadership input is necessary, developing, for example, high-profile and high-value business cases for a range of existing and new internal and external funding propositions.  Lead in the provision of specialist policy, investment, commercial and delivery expertise to a series of projects where such advice and short-term input is required to advance the institution’s objectives.

2. Provide strategic leadership and expert coordination for the University of Glasgow’s role in the Investment Zone, supporting Principal Investigators in delivering high-value, complex projects. Offer specialist input to strengthen business case development and navigate the commercial, infrastructural, and partnership challenges of a 10-year programme. Lead performance reporting to SMG, ensuring alignment with both Investment Zone and UofG strategic objectives. Shape and drive proposal development for future large-scale initiatives, such as City / Growth, or Innovation Deal for Glasgow, by leading strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration.

3. Enhance delivery of the UofG’s Innovation Accelerator projects by supporting Principal Investigators in executing their projects.  Lead on coordinating and tracking the portfolio centrally, resolving any issues and providing advice to optimise their delivery, impact and opportunities for legacy funding.  Lead on senior level, strategic engagement with colleagues across the University in relation to these projects and support the curation of new such projects and corresponding funding opportunities, building a strong evidential basis and business case to underpin these – requiring close working and relationship building with external partners across key public sector and industry organisations.  Build institutional capacity in securing and delivering more government projects of this nature.

4. Working with the Directorate leadership team, and colleagues across the University, take forward with partners activity to advance the longlist of potential infrastructure developments within the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID).  This includes instructing and collating expert input and analysis from subject matter experts to ensure University economic development, innovation and impact objectives are balanced in business case preparations, and that the University Economic Development Board is well-briefed on such opportunities.  This will require close working with partners in Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow City Council and industry.

5. Provide strategic, specialist leadership in collaboration with the Directorate leadership team to drive cross-cutting economic development initiatives. Lead the development of compelling business cases and funding propositions, ensuring alignment with the University’s research, teaching, and civic priorities, while balancing place-based economic goals and commercial investment drivers. Operate institution-wide to integrate strategic objectives into high-impact, externally funded projects.  This requires a degree of commercial acuity, and experience of engaging with a variety of public and private sector delivery partners.

6. Applying expertise in project management, contribute to and shape the   UofG’s Economic Development programme, strategy and business plan. Deliver a focused and robust approach to our strategic priorities and business improvement agenda, working effectively across organisational boundaries to create critical, strategic alignment between Colleges and the Directorate to influence and inform our institutional ambitions. Implement proposed changes to current work or project development processes – where relevant – by using the application of Programme Management techniques to ensure high quality service delivery, and considering commercial, regulatory and policy factors throughout.

7. Play a key role in the management of the Directorate including investing in the development and capabilities of our staff, and in supporting a positive and inclusive work culture. Represent the Directorate on boards and meetings as required. Develop/improve the capability of staff within work area, at all levels, motivating and mentoring staff to meet current and future requirements.

8. Lead on the strategic engagement with colleagues across the Dumfries campus build opportunities to create, expand and deliver Economic Development related activity, ensuring integration with plans, and lead the work, supporting the Director of Economic Development to build strategic relationships with local public and private partners (including Dumfries and Galloway Local Authority, South of Scotland Enterprise Agency). Represent the University externally in sector groups and in negotiation.

9. Lead on the development and presentation of institutional and strategy level performance and risk indicators, in relation to Economic Development. Work with senior leaders to align these across strategies and college level plans, including alignment to key external partners priorities. Explore ways of improving efficiency and effectiveness and promote improvements in service delivery. Work alongside marketing and comms colleagues to improve the internal and external communication of performance, aligned to partner objectives/priorities.

10. Represent the Economic Development Directorate – and the institution – on external platforms where appropriate (e.g. investor sessions, panel discussions, policy fora), raising the profile of the Directorate’s programme of work and the University’s of Glasgow’s reputation for delivering economic impact.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Ability to demonstrate the necessary strategic competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the necessary professional knowledge and leadership experience in a similar or number of different specialist roles Or: Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 9,10 or 11 (Ordinary/Honours Degree, Post Graduate Qualification), or equivalent, including being professionally qualified in relevant discipline, with a broad range of professional leadership experience in strategically important specialist areas.

A2 Significant, specialist knowledge public and private sector investments, project delivery and how such investment programmes or specialist projects can add value to the innovation, research, teaching and operational activity within a higher education setting

A3 Adept understanding of project management methodologies.

Desirable: 

B1 Knowledge and experience of the higher education sector.

B2 Project Management qualification.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Excellent interpersonal, organisational and communication skills with the ability to succinctly translate complex information to non-specialists.

C2 Drive, enthusiasm, with a high degree of personal effectiveness and professional credibility focussed on achieving good business outcomes.

C3 Highly developed written and communication skills with the ability to produce clear project management documents and project sponsor and stakeholder focused content, building consensus and agreement across project teams, project boards and stakeholders to drive delivery.

C4 Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical.

C5 The ability to engage and positively manage relationships with those delivering and impacted by change.

C6 Proven ability to liaise and communicate effectively in a concise and confident manner, particularly to external audiences, with the ability to persuade and influence a range of individuals/groups across organisational boundaries

C7 Creativity; flexibility; innovative approach to problem solving with the ability to manage change in a complex environment

C8 Strong leadership and motivational skills.

C9 Tact and diplomacy.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant experience of leading strategic, cross-cutting programmes of work

E2 Experience of commissioning external analysis to support strategic decision making

E3 Significant experience of leading business cases and high-value finding bids.

E4 Experience of collaborating with and influencing senior leaders across the public and private sector to deliver an agreed outcome.

E5 Experience of managing complex projects with high value thresholds, strategic influence, with significant impact upon resources.

E6 Extensive experience of producing high-quality written work and briefing materials (include producing project documentation)

E7 Significant experience of developing innovative solutions and contributing to strategic and operational plans

E8 Experience of leading external engagement and presentation of strategic priorities.

Informal enquiries should be directed to Liam Middleton, Deputy Director of Economic Development on liam.middleton@glasgow.ac.uk

Terms and Conditions

Salary is Grade 9, £59,139 - £66,537 per annum. 

This post is full time and open ended.

Relocation assistance will be provided where appropriate. 

​

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

​

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

​

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

​

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

​

Closing Date: Wednesday 6th August 2025 @ 23:45