Director of Economic & Workforce Programmes

Do you have the ability to see the bigger picture, a passion for leading a talented team, and the ambition to work with influential leaders to drive action?  

We are looking for an exceptional leader who can lead two large-scale IGD programmes that benefit the whole food system, building relationships with business leaders and policy-makers to drive impact. 

Context

The food system is a complex system of interconnected, interrelated businesses, that underpins the UK socio-economic landscape, touching the lives of millions every day.

It’s our growers, producers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, restaurateurs and every citizen.

It represents 7% of GDP and provides 4.4 million jobs making it the largest private sector – and whilst we might think about the farmers, butchers, bakers, shop floor workers, it’s engineers, food scientists, technologists, nutritionists, product developers, marketeers, accountants, and more!

About the role 

As the Director of Economic and Workforce Programmes you will lead two large-scale impact programmes: one focused on economic growth and the other on the workforce and skills agenda. This role is pivotal in supporting strategic planning and decision-making processes within food businesses and government.

It will involve working with business leaders and government to identify opportunities for the food system to drive economic growth, and address key barriers to it, including workforce and skills challenges.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management:

• Inspire and empower the teams, ensuring they are outcome focused, high-performing, and aligned with our organisational drivers.
• Drive a culture of excellence and care, taking ownership for the current and future performance of your team. Lead with clarity, empathy, and accountability.
  
• Create the conditions for collaboration and innovation, unlocking cross-functional thinking and encouraging new ideas, growth mindset and to come together to solve challenges for our stakeholders.
  
• Champion growth and development, investing in your team’s development through coaching, mentorship, and tailored development opportunities. Build a team that thrives, not just performs.
  

 Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including industry partners, government agencies, and academic institutions.
• Represent the organisation at conferences and events.

Economic Growth:

• Work with the Chief Economist and Head of Economic and Consumer Insight to deliver inspiring insights for business leaders, supporting better strategic planning and decision-making.
• Advocate for the role of the food system in driving economic growth, identifying opportunities and developing roadmaps.
• Present findings to senior management, business leaders, and government stakeholders to inform strategic decisions.

Workforce & Skills Agenda:

• Assess workforce trends and skills gaps, and their implications for food businesses.
• Work with central and regional government to ensure food businesses are represented in policy decisions.
• Manage a People Leaders Forum, nurturing relationships with senior HR professionals from the food industry.
• Understand workforce and skills challenges and collaborate to solve collective problems.

Schools Programme and National Campaign:

• Accountable for the delivery of a large-scale school programme, supporting thousands of young people to develop skills for work and showcasing opportunities in the food industry.
• Lead the delivery of a national campaign to raise the appeal of working in the food sector, working with businesses and other industry groups.

What you bring 

• Proven leadership experience managing diverse teams.
• A strong strategic thinker, with the ability to work through complex challenges to identify and execute solutions.
• A passion collaborative action, working with diverse, senior stakeholders with differing perspectives.
• Excellent relationship-building skills
• Capable of working under pressure, a can-do approach and adopting a flexible outlook to meet changing priorities 
• Strong influencing, negotiating and networking skills with the capability to engage with a variety of stakeholders  
• Highly motivated with the ability to drive programmes forward through own initiative  
• A team player with the ability to collaborate with colleagues across the organisation
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

The rewards 

We offer a range of benefits, including a market-leading pension, a bonus scheme, the ability to buy and sell annual leave plus a generous medical insurance package. At IGD, we have a great work-life balance, where you are empowered & trusted to manage your time. 

The location 

We are operating a hybrid approach to working with a mix of home and office-based working. We are based in a very accessible location within the M25, just 20 miles from central London. 

More about our people 

We’re looking for inspiring professionals; talented people who seek personal and career growth and are ambitious to develop their potential and unlock opportunities for society, for our customers and themselves. 

We seek and attract the very best people and create an environment that supports and includes them. We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their contribution. We therefore welcome applications from diverse candidates. This includes people with disabilities, so please discuss any adjustments that you may require throughout the selection and assessment process. 

More about IGD 

IGD is a truly unique place, we connect and inspire, provoking and leading constructive debate that creates impact. Together we are working to make a tangible difference for Society, Business, and the Individual. 

We use in-depth commercial understanding to uncover rich insights and data, leading to action that powers success. 

We reinvest profit from our Trading company into delivering Social Impact, through the Charity, aimed at uniting and mobilising our industry around the most crucial issues affecting society and business today. 

#InspireGrowChange: Join our team to help us make a positive impact and drive change. 

Get in touch – we’re looking forward to working with you.