Executive Director, Growth, Business and Skills

Executive Director, Growth, Business & Skills Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority £139,455 - £160,115 This job post will be advertised for a minimum period of two weeks on LinkedIn. After this time please apply directly to https://www.gatenbysanderson.com/job/GSe134488/ until the closing date of 29th October 2026. Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority is at the beginning of an exciting journey. As one of England's newest strategic authorities, we are creating the leadership capacity needed to turn ambitious plans for devolution, growth and prosperity into tangible outcomes for residents, businesses and communities. The Executive Director of Growth, Business & Skills will be the senior leader responsible for transforming strategy into action. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead a broad portfolio spanning business growth, skills and employment, housing and planning, investment, infrastructure, energy and the environment. Your immediate priorities will include preparing for the devolution of the Adult Skills Fund, leading major housing and growth partnerships, modernising business support across the region and developing an ambitious pipeline of programmes and investments that deliver measurable impact. We are seeking an accomplished delivery leader with experience of mobilising complex programmes, building high-performing teams and working successfully across organisational and political boundaries. You will bring the credibility to engage with government, local authorities, employers, providers and investors, alongside the resilience and judgement required to operate in a high-profile and evolving political environment. If you are motivated by creating change at scale and excited by the opportunity to build a new organisation while delivering lasting economic and social impact, this is a career-defining opportunity to help shape the future of Hampshire and the Solent. For a confidential discussion please contact our executive search partners GatenbySanderson: Emily Lockwood (07384 258626) or Seb Lowe (07464 543442). Closing Date: 29th October 2026