Peterborough Positive is recruiting a Business Improvement Manager

Peterborough city centre surrounds the site of the historic Cathedral, believed to have been built in or around 654 AD and now seat of the Bishop.

The story of its rich history is often lost to more recent and contemporary developments initiated by the work of the Development Corporation, established in 1968 to increase the population size by the construction of suburban housing developments. The city centre itself has become dominated by shopping, including the 800,000 sq. ft. Queensgate Centre.

Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, city centres were undergoing a period of dramatic shift, primary forced by changes to consumer behaviour. The future success of city centres will involve less reliance upon shopping and a greater emphasis upon the range of experiences that visitors can enjoy. Cities need to win back local consumers and reach beyond for overnight stays.

In late 2021, Peterborough businesses recognised the need for change and collaborated to provide 5-years of funding to better manage and develop their city centre. Peterborough Positive is the accountable body that will receive the funding that businesses have committed to (circa £400,000 a year), utilising the Business Improvement District (2004) regulations.

Work starts in 2022 and the Board of Peterborough Positive are now seeking an engaging person to lead the operations of the organisation, working closely with and on behalf of the city centre business community.

Business Improvement Manager

Providing passionate city centre operational management for Peterborough Positive.
The organisation has four key delivery themes:

Safety: “to deliver a coordinated approach to ensure Peterborough offers a well-managed, welcoming and safe city centre”
Events: “to create a memorable experience for all city centre users”
Marketing: “to provide a robust marketing strategy that promotes the Peterborough Positive brand across the city and beyond, attracting shoppers, tourists and business investment opportunities”
Community: “to build a business community within the city centre, improving communication between businesses as well as with the City Council and stakeholders. This will include keeping businesses updated on city centre matters and opportunities”
In addition, it must become a voice for the business community.

With support from the Board and other team members, who they will help to recruit, the Business Improvement Manager will lead on the delivery themes and will be responsible for delivery against agreed targets and KPIs.

This will be a high-profile role, with the successful candidate prioritising their relationships with city centre businesses whilst also engaging also with other key stakeholders such as public authorities, charities and the wider community. The role will involve:

• Leading the organisation, internally and externally.
• Promoting the Company to stakeholders.
• Become recognised as the operational point of contact.
• Proactively seeking opportunities to extend the scope of delivery and to build external relationships.
• Managing the operational team to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the Company’s objectives.
• Ensuring management of office, staff team and third-party contractors, in line with the Company’s management systems and protocols.
• Ensuring that the Board are briefed on operational activities at and between Board meetings.
• Monitoring and managing performance of the Company against agreed delivery plans.
• Helping to set and manage budgets, cashflow etc.
• Managing third-party providers.
• Seeking opportunities to collaborate with others on projects and to generate non-core income.
• Identifying new opportunities to extend the range, benefits and income of the Company.

The above list is not in order of priority, and other tasks commensurate with the grade of the post may be required of the post‐holder.

This role is envisaged as full-time with some flexibility required on working hours, including weekends.

Click here for more details, including the person specification.
Email your CV and a covering letter to jobs@peterboroughpositive.co.uk