Business & Investment Director

Overview

City Business & Investment Director role at City of London Corporation. This is a pivotal leadership position responsible for delivering and supporting business and investment into the Square Mile, targeting both existing and new business occupiers and sectors, as well as investment into development to provide a thriving City.

Operating at the heart of one of the world’s leading financial and commercial centres, the successful candidate will play a central role in strengthening the City’s economic base by securing inward investment, and by attracting, retaining, and supporting the growth of a diverse portfolio of occupiers across high-growth sectors including financial and professional services, digital and tech, and other sectors from SME to larger businesses.

The role will work with the property industry to attract and retain investors in development to accommodate these businesses and the wider ecosystem that supports a thriving business base.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a talented team and to deliver a refreshed approach to how the City works with and supports business and investors in the Square Mile, with direct impact on the City’s future resilience and competitiveness.

As City Business & Investment Director, you will:

• Lead the City Business and Investment Unit (CBIU), providing strategic oversight across investment attraction, business retention, and SME development.
• Develop and implement a robust business and investment strategy aligned with the City Corporation’s broader economic, spatial, and destination goals.
• Provide insight-driven leadership in support of occupier retention and growth, building meaningful relationships with existing and prospective businesses, including delivery of the City’s SME Strategy and supporting the City’s Destination City programme.
• Develop and lead a robust approach to key account management with the City’s key occupiers and investors, and develop strong relationships with partners to enable a true partnership approach to growth in business and investment in the City.
• Drive strategic engagement with the property market, leveraging knowledge of commercial real estate trends to shape policy and inform investment decisions.
• Represent the Corporation at senior-level forums and high-profile events in the UK and internationally, including MIPIM and Expo Real.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, including elected Members, on investment-led development, economic competitiveness, and the business landscape.

We are looking for a commercially focused, collaborative, energetic and strategic leader with:

• A deep understanding of occupier markets and business ecosystems, and how these interact with the built environment and wider investment landscape.
• Significant experience in economic development, inward investment, and/or property-related fields, ideally within a complex urban or city context.
• A proven ability to engage senior stakeholders across public and private sectors and deliver cross-organisational programmes.
• Strong political awareness and the ability to provide high-level policy guidance within a local authority or equivalent governance structure.
• Experience of developing and managing high-performing teams and delivering strategic transformation.
• Experience in developing and working in high-impact partnerships to deliver outcomes.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and presentation skills, with experience preparing senior-level briefings, strategy documents and promotional content.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the City of London’s economic future at a time of national and global transformation. You will be part of a forward-looking organisation committed to sustainable growth, inclusive prosperity, and international competitiveness.

We offer a highly competitive salary, and the chance to work in a high-profile role at the centre of one of the world’s most dynamic business locations.

• Salary
  : £85,170 - £97,310 per annum inclusive of all allowances
• Basis
  :
  Full-Time, Permanent
• Workplace
  :
  Workplace Based
• Closing date
  :
  Noon on Monday 8th September 2025

Attachments
:
Job Information Pack

Equal Opportunities
:
The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

The City of London Corporation reserves the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications. We will consider flexible working and job sharing where possible in line with policies and business needs. For more information on workplace attendance, view our guide.