City Business & Investment Director

Job Title: City Business & Investment Director

Salary: £85,170 - £97,310 per annum inclusive of all allowances

Contractual Hours: 35 hours per week

Basis: Full-Time, Permanent

Workplace category: Workplace Based

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required have also been included. Workplace role categories describe our approach to workplace attendance

Attachments: Job Information Pack

The City of London Corporation is seeking an outstanding individual to take up the post of City Business & Investment Director. This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for delivering and supporting business and investment into the Square Mile – targeting both existing and new business occupiers and sectors, as well as the investment into development to provide a thriving City.

Operating at the heart of one of the world’s leading financial and commercial centres, the successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening the City’s economic base — not only by securing inward investment, but by attracting, retaining, and supporting the growth of a diverse portfolio of occupiers across a range of high-growth sectors including financial and professional services, digital and tech and a range of other sectors – from SME to larger, more established businesses. In addition, the role will work with the property industry to help attract and retain investors in the City’s development of the commercial spaces that will accommodate these businesses and the wider ecosystem that will support a thriving business base.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a talented team, which has recently been formed from several smaller teams previously disparate within the Corporation, and to deliver a refreshed approach to how the City works with and supports business and investors in the Square Mile. The successful candidate will have a direct impact on the future resilience and competitiveness of the City’s business ecosystem.

The Role

As City Business & Investment Director, you will:

• 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.

The Requirements

We are looking for a commercially focused, collaborative, energetic and strategic leader with:

• 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.

Why Join Us?

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: Noon on Monday 8th September 2025

1st Interview date: 29th September 2025

2nd Interview date: 1st/2nd October 2025

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.

We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.