Service Manager - Enterprise and Investment

• 33 days annual leave, excluding bank holidays.
• Salary is £49,282 per annum.
• Permanent, Full-time (37 hours) role, with occasional requirements for evening or weekend work to meet project deadlines or attend community events.
• The primary work location is the Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation (FCDI), Taunton, with some opportunities for remote work as per organisational policies.

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset – and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Lead on business, enterprise and investment aspects of the Economic Prosperity Service, overseeing a team of economic development professionals.
• Provide expertise and strong management to drive performance and to commission and/or deliver the Council’s priorities and meet service targets, as a member of the Council’s Senior Management Group.
• Provide clarity, management and motivation in delivering the New Operating Model, the County Plan and other Council transformation programmes as required.
• Ensure the effective understanding and operation of any specific statutory or regulatory duty contained within the role.
• Advise Members, Heads of Service and Directors in respect of operational planning and commissioning, policy matters and service delivery issues and engage with partners in the promotion, communication and delivery of services.

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

• Degree level qualification in planning, economic development/regional studies, business studies, marketing or similar.
• Highly developed competency in project management.
• Associated knowledge of risk management, financial management and business case development.
• Experience of identifying, securing and/or managing external funding.
• Contract and consultancy management experience.

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.

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

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Dr James Gilgrist, Head of Economic Prosperity, on james.gilgrist@somerset.gov.uk.

Interviews to be held w/c 16th February 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.