Development & Place Director

Currie & Brown Investments is seeking a highly experienced Development & Place Director to join Hub North Scotland's Executive Management Team. This is a strategic leadership position responsible for driving business growth, developing major place-based and infrastructure programmes, and leading the organisation's advisory, investment and development functions.

The post-holder will play a key role in identifying and securing new opportunities, building strategic partnerships, translating public policy into deliverable programmes, and overseeing the successful development of projects across education, healthcare, housing, energy, leisure, social care and wider public infrastructure sectors.

Employed by Currie & Brown Investments and seconded full-time to Hub North Scotland, the successful candidate will work closely with public sector clients, government agencies, funders, developers and delivery partners across the North of Scotland.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Growth

• Identify, source and secure new development, advisory and investment opportunities.
• Lead opportunity assessment, strategic analysis and proposition development across:
  • Place Programmes
  • Energy & Net Zero Programmes
  • Advisory Services Portfolio
• Support the growth and diversification of Hub North's development and consultancy services.
• Translate national and local policy objectives into viable business cases, development strategies and investment programmes.

Partnership & Client Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships with public sector bodies, government agencies, developers, funders and supply chain partners.
• Act as a trusted adviser to clients and stakeholders, representing the organisation at senior levels.
• Lead the presentation of proposals and business cases to landowners, Registered Providers, funding bodies and other key stakeholders.

Development & Programme Leadership

• Establish and oversee development and commissioning programmes from inception through delivery.
• Provide strategic oversight of programme performance, ensuring key milestones, budgets and outcomes are achieved.
• Take overall accountability for the successful development and delivery of commissions.
• Ensure projects are aligned with organisational priorities, client objectives and governance requirements.

Governance & Commercial Management

• Lead internal governance processes and secure appropriate approvals for new opportunities and projects.
• Establish and manage programme budgets, maintaining strong financial controls and expenditure oversight.
• Support contractual, commercial and risk management activities across the portfolio.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and organisational standards.

Leadership & Executive Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the Executive Management Team, contributing to strategic planning and organisational leadership.
• Work closely with the Operations Director, Commercial Director and wider leadership team to deliver business objectives.
• Support the Chief Executive and Hub Board in delivering organisational priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Lead the appointment and management of consultants, advisers and professional teams to ensure appropriate expertise and value for money.
• Foster collaborative working across geographically dispersed teams and partner organisations.

Essential Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline, or equivalent combination of professional qualifications and significant industry experience.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• Significant experience within development, infrastructure, consultancy, regeneration, investment or related sectors.
• Strong understanding of the North of Scotland market and public sector operating environment.
• Experience working within consultancy, operational delivery or advisory-focused organisations.
• Demonstrable success in developing and delivering complex programmes and projects.
• Experience managing strategic partnerships and stakeholder relationships at senior executive level.
• Strong commercial acumen, including budget management, supplier oversight and contract administration.
• Experience operating within regulated environments with a strong focus on governance, compliance and risk management.
• Excellent analytical, business case development and report-writing skills.
• Experience presenting to Boards, executive teams and senior client stakeholders.
• Knowledge of partnership delivery models and fee-earning business environments.

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a proactive and entrepreneurial approach.
• Strong people leadership skills with experience managing multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams.
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Highly credible and confident when engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Commercially aware, results-driven and accountable.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Diplomatic, empathetic and professional, with a high level of integrity.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capability.

Desirable Experience

• Understanding of Scottish public sector procurement and infrastructure delivery models.
• Knowledge of public policy areas including place-making, net zero, inclusive economic growth and digital transformation.
• Experience working with local authorities, health boards, emergency services or other public sector organisations.
• Experience leading advisory or consultancy service growth initiatives.

About Hub North Scotland

Hub North Scotland is a public-private partnership organisation that develops, funds and delivers community infrastructure across the North of Scotland, including the North East, Highlands, Islands and Argyll & Bute. Working in partnership with local authorities, health boards and emergency services, Hub delivers projects across education, healthcare, housing, energy, leisure and social care sectors.

Through its role as Development Partner, Hub supports clients from initial concept and business case development through to funding, procurement and project delivery, helping create sustainable infrastructure that supports communities and economic growth across Scotland.