As Chief Executive you will have a unique opportunity to make the case for the importance of place in politics and policy. Localis has enjoyed two years of rapid growth and now seeks a new Chief Executive to take the organisation onto the next level. Working to the Chairman and Board, your key responsibilities will be to:

• Set overall strategic and policy direction of Localis
• Deliver consistently high quality publications and events
• Ensure the organisation remains in robust financial health, including achieving key business targets
• Recruit, manage, lead and develop staff
• Retain Localis’s influential position in national policy debates
• Oversee and manage relationships with sponsors and partners
• Proactively investigate and pursue new fundraising opportunities
• Maximise the profile of our work by engaging with, and building networks with, a wide range of opinion formers, journalists and political and executive stakeholders across national and local government
• Be the public face of Localis – appear on TV, radio and in press, speak at public events
• Scope, supervise and edit research reports
• Set overall direction for Localis’s programme of events

Candidate specification – essential requirements:

• A self-starter, with first rate interpersonal skills
• Experience and understanding of public policy development, in particular relating to local government and devolution
• Political nous and insight
• Excellent written communication skills, in both short (articles) and long form (major research reports)
• Strong verbal communication skills, including an ability to articulate a clear understanding of the big issues around devolution and local public services
• An understanding of how think tanks work

The ideal candidate for this role will also have:

• A track record of fundraising for research projects
• Experience of financial management of an organisation or business unit
• A history of successful project management
• Media know-how, including how to effectively engage with the broadcast media and the national, local and/or trade press