Business & Investment Director

Please apply by sending a CV and Cover letter directly to cbiu

Basis:
Full-time, Permanent

Workplace category:
Workplace Based

• Lead the City Business and Investment Unit (CBIU), providing strategic oversight across investment attraction, business retention, and SME development.
• Develop and implement a robust business and investment strategy aligned with the City Corporation’s broader economic, spatial, and destination goals.
• Provide insight-driven leadership in support of occupier retention and growth, building meaningful relationships with existing and prospective businesses, including delivery of the City’s SME Strategy, as well as supporting delivery of the City’s Destination City programme.
• Develop and lead a robust approach to key account management with the City’s key occupiers and investors, and developing strong relationships with key partners, which will enable a truly partnership approach to driving and supporting growth in business and investment in the City.
• Drive strategic engagement with the property market, leveraging your understanding of commercial real estate trends to shape policy and inform investment decisions.
• Represent the Corporation at senior-level forums and high-profile events in the UK and internationally, including MIPIM and Expo Real.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, including elected Members, on investment-led development, economic competitiveness, and the business landscape.

• A deep understanding of occupier markets and business ecosystems, and how these interact with the built environment and wider investment landscape.
• Significant experience in economic development, inward investment, and/or property-related fields, ideally within a complex urban or city context.
• A proven ability to engage senior stakeholders across public and private sectors and deliver cross-organisational programmes.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to provide high-level policy guidance within a local authority or equivalent governance structure.
• Experience of developing and managing high-performing teams and delivering strategic transformation.
• Experience in developing and working in high-impact partnerships to deliver outcomes.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills, with experience preparing senior-level briefings, strategy documents and promotional content.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the City of London’s economic future at a time of national and global transformation. You will be part of a forward-looking organisation committed to sustainable growth, inclusive prosperity, and international competitiveness. We offer a highly competitive salary, and the chance to work in a high-profile role at the centre of one of the world’s most dynamic business locations.

Closing date: 12 Noon - Friday 6th February 2026

The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications. Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role.

It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. We are committed to considering requests to work flexibly and job share. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs. For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide here.