Director Opportunities with Derby City Council

Letter from Rachel North, Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director for Communities and Place

Dear Candidate,

Welcome to Team Derby! 

Now is a great time to come to Derby. The city is on an upwards trajectory and can be proud of a plethora of recent achievements which illustrate a sharply growing confidence in its future and its people. Derby is a place of ‘makers and making’ stretching back to the Industrial Revolution and this new Director role is an exciting opportunity to be part of the next phase of its incredible history.  

A restructuring at senior level, alongside the retirement of the current post holder, has allowed a new alignment of responsibilities to encompass all facets of place making into a broad based and stimulating role.  Building on the successful launch of a ‘New Vision for Derby City Centre’ – co-produced with our city stakeholders in 2022 – this role will lead a collaborative approach to reimaging the city as a vibrant, dynamic and adaptive place for its citizens and businesses to thrive. 

Working in Derby is characterised by a deep commitment to ‘Partnership‘ through our #TeamDerby approach, sharing responsibilities and ideas across our many sectors and interests, focused on the outcomes for our place.  This approach has paid dividends in allowing creativity to flourish and aligned to our new 4 Year political cycle, creates the ideal environment for the bold and the pioneering. 

To illustrate the legacy you would be inheriting, Derby is home to the new Head Quarters for Great British Rail, has delivered an award-winning Nuclear Skills Academy with Rolls Royce and the University of Derby, created the first SmartParc, revolutionising the food production and distribution sector, opened a £42M Water Park and was placed in the last 8 for UK City of Culture 2025. These achievements, coupled with the development of a new Combined Authority for the East Midlands, posed to further accentuate the economic potential of the city and the region, and an active procurement to find a Strategic Development Partner to support our regeneration ambitions, now is an opportune time to make your mark on Derby.  

I hope you will join us.

Rachel