Head of Economy & Learning

Lead inclusive economic growth and open up opportunity across Kensington and Chelsea.

Lead inclusive economic growth and open up opportunity across Kensington and Chelsea.

As Head of Economy and Learning, you'll lead a new team working to improve economic outcomes across the borough. You'll shape and deliver strategies for jobs, enterprise, and adult learning, and make sure residents and businesses benefit from major development sites across the borough. t's a role where your ideas, influence, and leadership will have a real, borough-wide impact.

Working Style:

You'll be based in the Borough minimum 3 days a week, playing a key role in serving the local community. Whether you're working on the frontline or behind the scenes, you'll be part of a dedicated team making a real difference to residents' lives.

What you'll be doing:

This is a strategic and outward-facing role with real breadth. You'll lead and develop local economic growth strategies that boost employment and enterprise alongside delivery of statutory adult learning services that widen access to further education and training. You'll work with a wide range of partners - from central government and developers to local employers and learning providers - to make these plans a reality.

A big part of your role will be to lead on key relationships, including with statutory and non-statutory partners at local, sub-regional, regional and national level, and developers of major sites in the borough like Earl's Court and Kensal Canalside to secure meaningful Section 106 gains that create jobs, apprenticeships and supply chain opportunities for local businesses. You will also ensure the Council's employment and skills priorities are delivered collaboratively and consistently across services.

You'll also lead our statutory adult learning provision, ensuring residents can develop the skills employers need. From economic strategy and inward investment to policy advice and programme delivery, this is a hands-on leadership role that spans both policy and practice.

For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification.

What you'll bring

You'll be a confident, collaborative leader with deep knowledge of economic growth and investment, employment and skills, and adult learning provision. You've likely worked in a public sector or similar setting, and you'll understand how borough-level economies function in the London context.

You know how to influence and advise senior leaders, build strong cross-sector partnerships, and navigate complex systems. Your experience of negotiating with developers and leading on Section 106 agreements will be essential, and so will your ability to work across services and manage competing priorities.

Above all, you bring a passion for inclusive economic growth and a belief that everyone should have access to good jobs, meaningful learning, and opportunities to thrive.

Why join us

At RBKC, we're all in - investing in our people, our communities and our future.

This is an opportunity to take on a high-profile leadership role at a crucial time for the borough. With major developments underway and a renewed strategic focus on employment and learning, you'll be central to shaping what comes next.

You'll join a newly formed Economy and Learning team with a clear mission and the political backing to make change happen. This is a role where your leadership, strategy, and influence will help improve lives across the borough - and you'll have the autonomy and support to deliver.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places. Everything we do is focused on supporting our residents, strengthening our approach and creating a fairer borough.

As a competent and caring Council, we take pride in our work every day, ensuring our services are delivered with care and competence. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

In this role, you'll play a central part in delivering that mission - bringing strategic grip and clear direction to how we grow our economy and support residents to access the opportunities it creates.

Interview Details

Face to Face interviews will be held 5th & 6th August 2025.

Ready to join us?

We're all in - are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.