Organisation: Tees Valley Combined Authority
Job Category: Arts / Tourism / Culture
Location: Tees Valley Combined Authority
Salary: SM1 £95,387.00
Salary Band: £50001 +
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full time
Date Posted: 08-09-2026
Closing Date: 27-09-2026 11:59
Reference: 301609
About the job
Tees Valley is where five unique boroughs come together to make one remarkable region – one that harnesses its inventive spirit to get things done.
Tees Valley Combined Authority was established in 2016 with devolved powers and funding from central Government transport; infrastructure; education, employment and skills; inward investment and business growth; culture and tourism; and research, innovation and Net Zero.
TVCA is led by the Tees Valley Mayor and Cabinet, made up of the Leaders of our five constituent local authorities – Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees. Its work is supported by the Tees Valley Business Board, giving local businesses a voice in TVCA’s policy and decision-making.
The Combined Authority’s powers are backed by more than £1.7billion of funding for projects, schemes and programmes to make the region an incredible place to live, work, invest, visit and study.
Some major projects led or backed by TVCA over the past decade include:
- The transformation and upgrades to Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe and Billingham stations
- The establishment of the South Tees Development Corporation and subsequent creation of Teesworks, the UK’s largest industrial zone, home to major clean energy projects
- Bringing Teesside International Airport back into public control
- Establishing a £160million Investment Zone – the UK’s only to focus on digital and creative sectors
- Setting up the Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Development Corporations to transform the town centres
- The development of Northern School of Art’s new Middlesbrough campus and regeneration of its Hartlepool campus
- Driving education and skills at all levels, including our devolved funding over adult education
- Using our powers as the region’s Destination Marketing Organisation to bring big-ticket concerts, events and competitions to Tees Valley
- Numerous infrastructure and place-building projects including Stockton’s Waterfront Urban Park, Middlesbrough’s Boho Zone, Redcar’s Regent Cinema, Hartlepool’s Highlight centre and Darlington’s Central Park developments.
We’re proud of our historical impact across the globe – from being the place that built the world thanks to our rich steel heritage to making it connected through the creation of the first passenger railway. We’re now the area which will change the future, thanks to pioneering clean energy and digital innovations.
That’s reflected in our ten-year Local Growth Plan, which sets out how we are going to capitalise on our key sectors, local strengths, workers’ expertise, world-class assets and knowledge-sharing to make sure every investment is joined up and works to turbocharge our economy.
We love our diverse region, the five boroughs and their strengths that make Tees Valley greater than the sum of its parts, where the industrial skyline impressively frames rolling green landscapes and beautiful coastlines. A place of cultural and economic growth, where anything is possible.
About the Role
We’re looking for an ambitious Head of Creative and Digital Sector Growth to help grow the Tees Valley’s creative, cultural and digital economy. You’ll lead programmes and partnerships that support business growth, new ideas and investment.
As Programme Director for the £160m Tees Valley Investment Zone, you'll help to make Tees Valley a competitive place for creative production, digital innovation and long-term growth.
Working with government, investors, industry leaders, cultural organisations, education providers and local partners, you’ll help turn opportunities into practical projects that benefit businesses, communities and residents.
This is a senior role with real influence. You’ll also be part of a new leadership team working together to shape the Tees Valley’s future growth and make the region a stronger place to invest, create and do business.
Role Requirements
You’ll be a commercially minded leader with strong experience in creative, cultural, digital or economic growth roles.
You will have:
- Strong experience creating and delivering growth plans, programmes or projects that support sector growth, innovation and investment.
- The ability to develop bold sector propositions, attract private investment and be willing to try something new to turn creative ideas into commercial opportunities.
- Experience leading large programmes with public funding, strong financial control, performance tracking and compliance.
- A track record of attracting investment, supporting business growth and creating jobs.
- Good knowledge of the creative, cultural and digital sectors and their growth potential.
- Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to influence government, investors, industry, cultural partners and education providers.
- Experience securing external funding and making the most of investment opportunities.
- Strong leadership skills and the ability to build teams focused on delivery, innovation and improvement.
- Clear communication and influencing skills, with confidence representing an organisation at senior level.
- Strong commercial awareness and the ability to spot opportunities that make Tees Valley more competitive.
Above all, you’ll be a collaborative leader who wants to grow the creative, cultural and digital economy and deliver lasting impact across the Tees Valley.
Additional Information
Please visit the Supporting Documents section for the Job Description, Competency Framework and Benefits Booklet. Applications should include a cover letter demonstrating alignment to;
Competency Framework
Leadership & Direction – Communication & Influence – Experience & Technical – Responsibility & Accountability
Visions and Values
Open > Collaborative > Empathetic > Focused
To have an informal discussion about the role please contact TVCARecruitment@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk
Our Benefits
- Hybrid/Flexible working
- 27 Days annual leave, increasing to 32 days after 5 years service
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Local Government Pension Scheme (16.6% employer contribution)
- Access to Private Counselling Sessions
- Access to Physio Therapy Sessions
- Specsavers Eye-Care Vouchers
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Car Lease Scheme
- Free Parking
- On Site Café with staff Discount & more!?
Other Information
TVCA is proud to hold Disability Confident Leader status and is committed to continuously developing best-practice approaches to inclusion. Applicants who consider themselves to have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role will be offered an interview. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.
Should you need the application in an alternative format, please contact the HR Team at TVCAHR@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk or call 07469 918937 so we can discuss how best to support you.
As proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to supporting veterans find and secure employment opportunities. This includes a guaranteed interview to those who meet the minimum criteria for the role.
Please note, you should hear from us within four weeks of the closing date if you are shortlisted for interview, otherwise you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.
Please complete our Equality, Inclusion, and Diversity questionnaire
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Guidance for Applicants :
You must ensure that anything submitted in your application is factually accurate. Plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Whilst we accept candidates may use AI tools within job applications; submissions must be truthful and relevant to your own experience.
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