Title : Economic Development Officer: Maternity Cover
Period: to March 2014 in the first instance, with possibility of extension for a further 4-6
months.
Salary: £30,011 pro rata, plus 6% employers contribution to pension
Hours of Work: 28 hours per week.
Holidays: 28 days per year plus statutory holidays.
Main Functions of the Post:
The Economic Development Officer will develop, implement and manage the South Belfast Partnership
Board’s interventions to support local economic regeneration, development and Tourism initiatives, with a particular focus on the delivery of the South Belfast Economic Development Programme and delivery of aspects of the Queens Quarter and Lisburn Road Action Plan (2013/14) funded by Belfast City
Council. The Economic Development Officer will convene and service the South Belfast Economic Forum and associated sub groups, developing productive working relationships with a range of public, statutory, community and private sector partners and will prepare proposals and tenders for submission to funders.
The post holder will convene, support and maintain the newly established Economic Forum for South
Belfast as a single point of communication and information dissemination that is inclusive and representative of the business community, education & training, C&V and statutory sectors in South
Belfast, supporting leverage of private sector business investment and opportunities into South Belfast.
The Economic Development Officer will develop and project manage specific economic initiatives which promote South Belfast as an attractive place to live, to work, to visit, invest, do business and progress from. A central premise will be the inclusion of growth industries, social clauses, employability and job creation initiatives.
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Key Responsibilities:

To take a lead role in the development and delivery of the South Belfast Economic Development
Programme, working with the chair of the South Belfast Economic Forum to strategically plan, identify and deliver targeted economic outputs to include securing further businesses support for our Economic development Programme, encouraging new enterprise and inward investment in South Belfast.

Maintain the newly established Economic Forum for South Belfast as a single point of communication and information dissemination that is inclusive and representative of the business community, education & training, C&V and statutory sectors in South Belfast, supporting leverage of private sector business investment and opportunities into South Belfast.

To develop and project manage specific economic initiatives linked to the post which promote
South Belfast as an attractive place to live, to work, to visit, invest, do business and progress from. A central premise will be the inclusion of growth industries, social clauses, employability and job creation initiatives.

To secure (or assist in securing) resources to meet agreed actions and programmes for economic initiatives, including preparing funding proposals and tender submissions.

To assist in the implementation of the economic regeneration aspects of the Strategic
Regeneration Framework for South Belfast.

To engage with, communicate and foster good working relationships with all relevant public, private, statutory, community and voluntary sector agencies to meet the needs of the post.

To identify, commission, conduct and analyse research relevant to economic regeneration in
South Belfast.

To coordinate and manage the delivery of specific actions within the Queens Quarter and
Lisburn Road Action Plan 2013-14 (QQLRAP) within the SBPB Operational Plan 2013-14 (funded by the Development Department (Economic Initiatives) at Belfast City Council) including identification of new tourism initiatives/offers within the South Belfast area.

Liaise with and manage the external consultant contract for the delivery of Marketing, Media and Product Development actions within the QQLRAP.
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
To work in partnership with the South Belfast Partnership Board team and with the other Belfast
Area Partnership Board teams as required in order to develop synergies and to ensure the success of SBPB and city-wide regeneration initiatives.

Develop and deliver a cross sectoral Apprenticeship Programme supporting 15 local jobseekers into meaningful training and work placements.

Further develop the Draft Economic Strategy for South Belfast, including production of an
Implementation Action Plan and create the ‘business prospectus’ for investors.

To provide timely reports for the South Belfast Partnership Board, funders and appropriate agencies.

To ensure the effective communication of the economic development and tourism initiative work of SBPB through use of the media, social media and web-site.

To undertake any other reasonable tasks and duties required by the Partnership Board which ensure the successful regeneration of the area and the efficient operation of the Partnership.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SOUTH BELFAST PARTNERSHIP BOARD
South Belfast Partnership’s mission is “To strengthen and better target the efforts being made by the community, the private sector and the Government to tackle in partnership the economic, social and environmental problems which affect people in the most disadvantaged areas of Belfast.”
Since its launch over 10 years ago, South Belfast Partnership Board has developed and enhanced strategic relationships between local residents, local community organisations, the Private Sector, and
Government. Through effective partnership working it has contributed to the development and regeneration of the south of the City and an enhancement of the quality of life across south Belfast's many and varied neighbourhoods.
There are currently a number of significant changes forthcoming in the regeneration and community development and landscape that necessitate a review of existing structures, roles and functions, to ensure that the structures that are in place are fit for purpose and future-proof. Given this context, the overarching aim of the South Belfast Economic Development Programme is:
“To ensure that the most appropriate structures are put in place in relation to community/ economic development and regeneration to best serve the needs of the communities who live and work in the
South of the City.”
The South Belfast Economic Development Programme will deliver a local focus, through the Economic
Forum, Tourism initiatives and collaborative cross sector economic initiative development into city-wide and NI wide economic opportunities. In addition to maintaining the newly established Economic Forum for South Belfast as a single point of communication and information dissemination that is inclusive and representative of the business community, education & training, C&V and statutory sectors in South
Belfast, the South Belfast Economic Development Programme will seek to leverage private sector business investment and opportunities into South Belfast, further develop the Draft Economic Strategy for South Belfast and create the ‘business prospectus’ for investors.
South Belfast Partnership in conjunction with Queens Quarter and Lisburn Road Tourism Industry partners is delivering elements of the Belfast City Council Queens Quarter and Lisburn Road Tourism
Action Plan for 2013-2014. The Queens Quarter and Lisburn Road Tourism Action Plan (QQLRAP)
Initiative will support the Queens Quarter and Lisburn Road tourism destination area to better support existing city wide initiatives and identify new city wide themes based on product strengths across the city. At a local level it will allow local businesses, attractions and communities to influence and be part of shaping the city’s product development, visitor servicing and marketing strategies and more importantly promote local clustering to target segments/visitors.
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South Belfast Partnership Board (SBPB) has been commissioned to administer, manage and deliver specific actions within the QQLRAP identified within the SBPB Operational Plan 2013-14 (funded by the
Development Department (Economic Initiatives) at Belfast City Council). Delivery of Marketing, Media and Product Development actions within the QQLRAP is through the appointment and management of external consultants with remaining agreed actions delivered in-house by the South Belfast Partnership
Economic Development Officer.
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