Director of Place Based Growth

Description

Shape the future of two of London’s most dynamic boroughs.
Richmond and Wandsworth have come together to create The Better Service Partnership, which has created a platform for growth, innovation, and leadership at scale across both boroughs. Together, they represent a truly unique and diverse urban landscape: from the creative and commercial energy of Wandsworth’s town centres and riverfronts to the green spaces, historic charm, and strong local communities of Richmond.

This is also a brand-new directorate, created to bring fresh thinking to how we plan, grow, and invest in our places. We’re building something from the ground up – and that means this role is not just about delivering today, but about shaping the future. We have adopted a place-based approach to growth that ensures we employ system-thinking to draw on the strength of partnership in our borough and drive better outcomes for all.

This is a brand-new leadership role at the heart of the Partnership – a rare opportunity to shape growth across a population of over 500,000 people and to work on regeneration and development programmes of a scale and complexity that goes well beyond a single borough.

As our new Director of Place-Based Growth, you’ll lead transformative change across this combined geography – driving forward ambitious regeneration, inward investment, and sustainable development that delivers real impact for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

This is more than a single-borough role. It’s a chance to set the strategic direction for two thriving economies, uniting local strengths to build inclusive, future-focused growth. Working closely with developers, investors, and government partners, you’ll help shape the next generation of town centres, employment spaces, and community-led regeneration projects.

We bring together the best of what London has to offer in terms of ambition, scale, sustainability, and world-class landmarks – making us unique in our location, identity, and partnership approach.

We’re building a new, forward-thinking team at the heart of the Growth and Place Directorate, one that champions collaboration, creativity, and innovation in how we design and deliver change. You’ll have the freedom and influence to shape that team, establish new ways of working, and lead on projects that define the future of both boroughs.

We’re looking for energetic, experienced leaders who thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments – people who can navigate complex political dynamics with confidence, judgement, and resilience.

This is your opportunity to:

• Lead the creation and delivery of a shared growth vision across two high-performing councils.
• Drive strategic regeneration, investment, and long-term economic transformation that improves opportunity and prosperity for all.
• Join a values-driven organisation that thinks bigger, embraces difference, connects better, leads by example, and puts people first.

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Further info

For information, please visit our microsite https://join-richmondandwandsworth.com and contact our partners Frazer Thouard 07384 810 743 (frazer.thouard@gatenbysanderson.com) Ben Parsonage 07530 578 921 (ben.parsonage@gatenbysanderson.com) and Louise Bickley 07586 715 788 (louise.bickley@gatenbysanderson.com) at GatenbySanderson.