Assistant Director (Place Directorate) x 2


Company:	inploi
Salary:	Competitive
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Manchester, M1 6EU
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	28 Jul 2026
Closing date:	27 Aug 2026

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Summary

Assistant Director (Place Directorate) - 2 x Positions

Please indicate clearly in your application which position you are applying for.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA)

Help shape the next chapter of Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester is entering a new era of devolution, investment and growth.

With unprecedented opportunities to influence how places are planned, funded and delivered, we are looking for two exceptional leaders to join our Place Directorate and help drive the delivery of Greater Manchester's Integrated Pipeline our ambitious programme of transformational growth that will shape the future of the city-region.

Working alongside the Good Growth Fund, Greater Manchester's flagship investment programme, the Integrated Pipeline is bringing together a coordinated programme of housing, regeneration, infrastructure and economic growth opportunities to unlock delivery at scale across the city-region. These roles will play a central role in ensuring that priorities are translated into successful projects, partnerships and outcomes for communities.

These roles offer a rare opportunity to work at the forefront of place-based growth, helping to unlock new homes, jobs, infrastructure and regeneration opportunities that support our ambitions for a thriving, inclusive and sustainable Greater Manchester.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director of Sustainable Growth & Infrastructure, you will work closely with the Assistant Director Integrated Pipeline and a wide range of local authority, government, public sector and private sector partners to turn strategy into delivery. Together, you will support the delivery of the Greater Manchester Strategy, maximise the impact of the Good Growth Fund, and help bring forward some of the city's most significant growth and regeneration opportunities.

We are recruiting to two exciting Assistant Director opportunities and welcome applications for either role. Please indicate clearly in your application which position you are applying for.

Assistant Director Place

Driving housing delivery and economic growth across Greater Manchester

Lead the development and delivery of major housing, regeneration and economic development projects within Greater Manchester's Integrated Pipeline. Working with local authorities, government and industry partners, you will help unlock new homes, jobs and investment, ensuring priority projects move from ambition to delivery. You will play a key role in shaping growth across the city-region and providing strategic leadership on housing and economic development priorities.

Assistant Director Delivery Vehicles & Partnerships

Supporting the organisations and partnerships that deliver growth

Lead Greater Manchester's approach to Mayoral Development Corporations (MDCs), Mayoral Development Zones (MDZs) and other delivery partnerships that help bring transformational projects forward. You will work with local authorities, delivery partners and government to establish effective governance, support investment opportunities and ensure these delivery vehicles are well-positioned to drive regeneration and growth across the city-region.

About You

We are looking for ambitious, collaborative and politically astute leaders who are passionate about delivering positive change through place-based growth.

You will bring:

A strong track record of strategic leadership within regeneration, housing, economic development, infrastructure, development delivery or related sectors.
Experience of working successfully across complex partnerships and stakeholder environments.
Strong commercial, programme and financial management skills.
The ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders, elected representatives, government departments and external partners.
Experience of delivering transformational programmes in complex political and organisational settings.
Excellent communication, relationship management and negotiation skills.
A commitment to inclusive leadership, continuous improvement and developing high-performing teams.

If you are excited by the opportunity to shape the next phase of Greater Manchester's growth story and help deliver our ambitious Integrated Pipeline, we'd love to hear from you.

About us:

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) brings together the cityregion’s ten councils and key partners including Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) - to deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. Our shared vision is to create a thriving city region where everyone can live a good life. We work to grow an inclusive economy and ensure people have what they need to live happy, healthy lives, tackling inequalities. Our policy department include Digital, Economy, Education, Work & Skills, Environment, Place Making, Public Service Reform, and Safer & Stronger Communities - who are supported by our essential corporate functions like Finance, Legal & Governance, People Services, Procurement and Communications.

We value the diversity of our employees, and aim to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities across Greater Manchester. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified individuals, irrespective of people's age, disability, Trans status and Non-binary identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

To find out more about working for us please click here: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/

Our offer:

In return for your hard work, we offer our employees a competitive package as part of our offer that you can find out more about here:

Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Home | greater.jobs

Mandatory Information:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. However, we value human talent and are looking for passionate individuals to join our organisation. Please ensure you personally complete your application and read all the instructions carefully to maximise your chances of success.

Applications that rely too heavily on AI may be rejected during shortlisting, however we understand that AI may be used as a reasonable adjustment, if using AI to support your application, please give a brief explanation why to help ensure fair selection process.

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Employees on the redeployment register will be given priority for any vacancies in the first instance. If employees are identified as a match from the register then the vacancy may be withdrawn or put on hold pending an outcome.

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK - if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licenced sponsor.

Hybrid working

This role is part of GMCA’s hybrid working scheme. As part of our commitment to ‘Build Back Fairer’ in Greater Manchester following the Covid-19 pandemic, we have evolved our management methods by trusting and empowering staff to deliver their work in the best way that suits the business and their individual needs, and supports health and wellbeing. Our hybrid working policy sets out a flexible approach, combining attendance at our Manchester city centre office, allocated GM Local Authority office(s), or on site in the community, with remote working, typically from home (within a reasonable commutable distance from Greater Manchester); the location of work is primarily dictated by the needs of the business: ‘Do what is right for you and the business on that day’. If appointed to the role you will work with your manager to agree and regularly review the best working pattern for you, your team and your work.