Markets Economic Development Officer

Job Title- Markets Economic Development Officer

Salary- £41,580 - £47,628 per annum. Salary negotiable depending upon experience

Location- City of Westminster

Client Job Reference- WCC621744

Contract- Fulltime

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF KEITH’S TRANSFORMATIONAL WORK

Public Protection & Licensing in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where people like Keith and his team are passionate about keeping our borough clean, safe, healthy and free of pests.

Pest control might not sound like the most glamorous job, but to Keith it’s the best job in the world. As our Senior Pest Control Technician, it’s his task to see that Westminster is kept free of the sort of pests which can cause worry, fear, discomfort and – in the worst cases – illness. He and his dedicated team work tirelessly across the entire borough, from restaurants and cafés to parks and gardens, and from shops and offices to houses and flats.

Keith started his career in research and development for the private sector, before becoming a field biologist and then joining us here in Westminster. To begin with he was on a two year contract but when this was about to end he was asked to stay, and he’s been here ever since, working his way up the career ladder, and is now leading his team.

No two days are the same for him and the team, but the best ones are when they’re called out to help a family who are suffering from an infestation of – for example – mice, and this is not only making their lives a misery, but is creating unhealthy living conditions. But once the team have finished their work all of a sudden the family’s lives are transformed, they feel safer living in their own home, and can sleep peacefully at night without the worry, discomfort and noise of tiny little feet scurrying around.

And on top of this, he believes that if you love your job, and are passionate about what you can achieve, you can build a fulfilling, rewarding and truly life-changing career at Westminster.

The Role:

As a Markets Development Officer, you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster’s success as you play a pivotal role in unlocking the full social, economic and environmental potential of our borough’s iconic street markets. Supporting the development of six vibrant and distinct sites—from historic Berwick Street to bustling Church Street—you’ll help shape the future of our high streets by leading innovative projects, community initiatives and trader-focused strategies.

This is an exciting time to join the team. A new transformation programme is underway, aiming to revitalise our markets as hubs of opportunity, culture and sustainability. You’ll contribute to this journey by developing and delivering projects that attract new traders, support small business growth and enrich the local offer. From overseeing market infrastructure improvements to onboarding emerging entrepreneurs, your work will help ensure that every market not only meets but exceeds the needs of its surrounding community.

You’ll champion creativity and innovation, piloting night markets, developing promotional campaigns and leading events that boost footfall and celebrate local identity. You’ll also play a critical role in improving the trader experience, encouraging uptake of community schemes, and embedding sustainability in everything from waste reduction to carbon-negative initiatives.

With the autonomy to shape initiatives and influence strategic direction, you’ll build meaningful relationships with traders, internal departments, BIDs and local communities. At times, this will mean navigating legacy challenges and building trust with those who may be wary of change. But with empathy, persistence and support from the wider Markets Team, you’ll prove our commitment to growth, fairness and inclusion—and help ensure Westminster’s markets have a long, prosperous future.

About You:

Our street markets are at the heart of Westminster’s communities—places of commerce, culture and connection. With you as part of our team, we aim to take them to the next level. To thrive in this role, you’ll bring a solid understanding of London’s street trading landscape and ideally have some familiarity with Westminster’s distinctive market environments. With a background in delivering economic development initiatives—particularly within the public realm or street trading—we’ll expect you to be adept at designing and driving forward impactful programmes within a local government context.

You’ll be a strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of navigating the complexities of policy, operational delivery and community engagement. Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the City of Westminster Act, would be beneficial, and your resilience and ability to manage competing priorities will be key as you work across departments and with a diverse range of stakeholders. An inspiring and inclusive leader, you’ll coach and support colleagues, delegate effectively, and bring others on board to deliver shared outcomes that support a Fairer Westminster.

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

Please note that we reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants, so please do apply as soon as possible.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit Equality duties | Westminster City Council

As a forward-thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.

The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.