Project Officer

Project Officer (Financial, Business, Professional Services & Digital) £41,747 per annum (salary effective 1 April 2026) - Grade 7 Leeds / Hybrid Full time - 37 hours per week Closing date: Sunday 5 April 2026 Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share. We currently have a vacancy for a Project Officer to join our Sector Team for Financial, Business, Professional Services and Digital in the Inclusive Economy, Skills and Culture Directorate. In this role you will support colleagues to build productive international partnerships for the benefit of these sectors in West Yorkshire and work with international businesses with growth ambitions to establish a presence in West Yorkshire. Our dynamic Financial, Business, Professional Services and Digital Team is building international partnerships to help propel West Yorkshire onto the global stage. With devolution empowering us to shape the trade and investment agenda, you will be at the heart of supporting local businesses to export, attract international investment, and forge strategic partnerships across key sub-sectors including FinTech, Cyber Security and Data and AI. Beyond companies, you will also be involved in supporting universities, special interest groups, and policymakers to connect to international opportunities that enhance innovation and collaboration. You will have high-profile stakeholder engagement, results-driven projects and a focus on inward investment enquiries, creating the chance to translate global opportunities into tangible benefits for West Yorkshire. We are looking for someone passionate about international trade, creating strategic partnerships, and driving economic impact Our Offer · Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career. · Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays. · Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5). · Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme. · Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year. · Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases. · Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most. · Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends. · Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech. The Role Reporting into the Inclusive Economy Manager (Financial, Business, Professional Services and Digital), your key responsibilities will include: · Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with key stakeholders, partners, businesses and funding organisations. · Provide project and contract management and coordination of a range of initiatives/activities/ projects, including the potential to manage multiple contracts with third party delivery partners. · Work with Policy Officers to develop ideas into deliverable projects. · Ensure activity continually meets the objectives of the Local Growth Plan, pivoting activity and interventions where necessary. Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities. About You You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience: · Knowledge and understanding of economic development in a West Yorkshire context. · Experience of managing complex projects. · Experience of making compelling business cases/reports to a range of audiences. · Take a pro-active approach to participating and delivering of your directorate’s objectives with a particular focus on the Cluster Action Plans adopted for Business, Financial and Professional Services and Digital and Technology. · Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant education/experience. To Apply If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form. Further Information The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures 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 and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis