Senior Economic Development Officer

About the job

Key information

• 37 hours per week
• This role operates under a dynamic working environment which includes hybrid working options with agreement from your manager. For in the office days you will be based at our state of the art Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation in Taunton, which is literally a 2 minute walk from the main line railway station.
• Be part of a forward-thinking council committed to innovation and economic growth, working on high profile projects that will shape Somerset’s future.
• Enjoy a supportive team environment with opportunities for professional development
• 30 days’ annual leave – plus bank holidays

What will I be doing?

Somerset Council is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Economic Development Officer to join our Enterprise & Investment Team within the Economic Prosperity Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping Somerset’s economic future.

A key part of the role will be to  work at the heart of one of the UK’s most significant industrial developments – the Agratas Giga Factory – supporting local businesses to access supply chain opportunities and ensuring Somerset maximises the benefits of this transformative investment. In addition, you will have a key responsibility for coordinating Somerset’s Council’s wider inward investment activity, promoting Somerset as a place to work, invest and do business.

Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Business Engagement: Supporting Somerset businesses to connect with opportunities arising from the Agratas Giga Factory development.
• Inward Investment: Promoting Somerset as a prime location for investment, attracting new businesses and fostering growth.
• Strategic Delivery: Working collaboratively within a small, dedicated team to implement initiatives aligned with the new Somerset Economic Prosperity Strategy.
• Partnership Building: Developing strong relationships with stakeholders, industry partners, and regional networks to drive economic development.

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be. But it will really help if you have:

• Experience in economic development, business support and inward investment
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to manage projects and deliver outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
• The ability to design projects that fit a need and seek funding for delivery.
• A passion for driving growth and prosperity in Somerset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with businesses, investors, and partners.
• The ability to interpret economic trends and align actions with the Somerset Economic Prosperity Strategy.
• An understanding of factors influencing business growth, inward investment, and supply chain development.
• The capacity to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges in a dynamic environment.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset. And that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What is in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

Supporting documents and information

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Corinne Matthews, Industrial Sectors Specialist, via Corinne.matthews@somerset.gov.uk or 07881 218670.

Interviews will take place Tuesday 27 January 2026.

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button – we can’t wait to hear from you.

Apply on the Somerset Council website

Apply now