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Head of Partnership Development

We’re looking for an exceptional partnership leader who is passionate about bringing people, organisations and sectors together to deliver transformational outcomes for residents across the West of England.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) is seeking to appoint a Head of Partnership Development to join the Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholders team, where your key responsibility will be to deliver the Mayor’s priorities by:

• Supporting the Director of Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholders in shaping and delivering a coherent partnership approach that drives the successful delivery of the West of England’s Growth Strategy.
• Developing and leading high-impact partnerships across the public, private, voluntary, community and academic sectors, ensuring they are strategically aligned, outcome-focused and capable of delivering meaningful change.
• Ensuring robust governance, accountability and performance frameworks are in place to support effective collaboration, decision-making and delivery across complex partnership arrangements.
• Completing strategic engagement and negotiation with senior leaders, partners and stakeholders to align priorities, unlock opportunities and build collective commitment to shared outcomes.
• Providing visible, inspiring leadership to the Partnership Development team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement while building organisational capability to work effectively across systems and sectors.

What you'll be doing

You will lead the development and delivery of the Combined Authority's priority partnerships, bringing together organisations, expertise and resources to tackle regional challenges and maximise opportunities for growth and prosperity.

Using strategic insight, relationship-building expertise and a strong focus on outcomes, you will create and sustain partnership arrangements that deliver real impact, strengthen collective leadership across the region and support the successful delivery of mayoral priorities.

What you'll bring

Success in this role relies on exceptional partnership leadership and influence. You will work across local government, business, academia, the voluntary and community sector, and wider public service partners to build ambitious, trusted and effective relationships that drive collective action.

As the strategic lead for partnership development, you will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and decision-makers, bringing fresh thinking, political awareness and a collaborative mindset to the design and delivery of regional partnerships. You will be comfortable operating in complex environments, balancing competing priorities while maintaining focus on shared outcomes and long-term impact.

You will champion a culture of collaboration, co-production and system leadership, helping partners work across organisational boundaries, overcome barriers and create innovative solutions to regional challenges.

We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• A proven track record of leading high-impact partnerships and influencing senior stakeholders across complex organisations and sectors.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to translate ambition into practical partnership models, programmes and governance structures.
• Outstanding relationship-building, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience of shaping policy, strategy and investment opportunities through partnership working.
• The ability to lead teams with confidence, inspire collaboration and drive high-quality delivery.
• An entrepreneurial and innovative approach, with the ability to identify opportunities and build momentum for change.

Why choose us?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of partnership working across one of the UK's most ambitious and innovative combined authorities.

You will play a leading role in developing strategic relationships that influence regional growth, strengthen communities and improve outcomes for people and places across the West of England.

Working at the heart of regional leadership, you'll have the opportunity to influence major decisions, collaborate with senior leaders across multiple sectors and help create the conditions for long-term success across the region.

If you have a passion for partnership working, exceptional leadership skills and the ability to bring people together around a shared vision, this is the role for you.

Find out more

If this sounds like your next opportunity, please apply so you can tell us why you'd be a great fit.

The closing date for this role is midnight on 4th August 2026.

Interviews are planned to take place mid-August.

Our offer

We are based in a new bright and airy office, with all the latest technology, close to Bristol Temple Meads Train Station.

Alongside the opportunity to make a real difference to the people who visit, live and work in the West of England, we offer an excellent benefits package including:

• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years continuous service. There is also the option to increase your annual leave with our annual leave purchase scheme.
• 2 days of paid leave each year to volunteer
• Local Government Pension Scheme (one of the most generous pension schemes in the UK).

• Flexible, family friendly and hybrid working options to ensure you achieve the best work/life balance and career goals. We follow a hybrid working model with typically 2 or 3 days in the office each week
• Reduced bus fare travel across the West of England

We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, empowering you to thrive in your career. We prioritise your growth and success by providing a diverse range of learning and development opportunities. Our goal is to keep you motivated, equipped with essential skills, and confident in delivering excellent services.

The salary for this role is £91,319 - £97,032. This is the full-time equivalent salary, and will be pro-rata for part-time. We advertise salary ranges for job roles, with new appointments for external candidates typically starting at the lowest salary point. In exceptional cases, where higher skill levels or experience are applicable, the salary point may be adjusted to secure the best candidate. This approach allows for potential year-on-year salary increases, offering progression and appropriate rewards to employees.

Good Employment Charter
https://www.goodemploymentcharter.co.uk/
As a founding Member of the West of England Good Employment Charter and accredited Living Wage Employer, we’re committed to creating a diverse environment where all our employees can thrive. We make sure all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment and we particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or citizenship status.

Fair and Inclusive Recruitment

As part of our commitment to fair and inclusive recruitment, we provide interview questions to all shortlisted candidates in advance/on request. This approach helps ensure everyone can demonstrate their skills, knowledge and experience fully, and supports our duties under the Equality Act 2010. You will also be asked follow-up questions during the interview to explore your responses in more detail.

Reasonable Adjustments
If you have an accessibility need, disability, condition or need any additional support that means you might require changes to the application or recruitment process (for example, you might need to submit your application in a different format), please get in touch with our Resourcing Team at Resourcing@westofengland-ca.gov.uk. We are here to assist and accommodate your needs.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We want to understand the real person behind each application. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools, these should support your writing rather than replace your own voice. AI can be a helpful aid, but your personal insight and individuality are what matter most to us.

Closing dates
Our roles close at midnight on the closing date. Please note this vacancy may close early or be extended depending on the number of applications so please don’t wait to apply. If you have started your application, we’ll give you notice of the new closing date by email.

From a recruitment agency?

We’re not engaging with agencies for this role. Any CVs received from agencies will be considered as unsolicited and the property of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with no obligation to pay agency fees.