Head of Culture Creative Industries & Visitor Economy- Ref: EE08826

Head of Culture, Creative Industries & Visitor Economy- Ref: EE08826

Directorate: Environment, Economy and Growth 
Grade: SM1; Salary Range: £84,191- £95,535
Contract: Permanent

 This is a pivotal time for culture, creative industries and the visitor economy in Walsall.  The borough has a strong cultural heritage, a growing creative economy and ambitious plans for the future. Through the We Are Walsall 2040 vision, culture, creativity and place-making are recognised as key drivers of economic growth, community wellbeing and civic pride. Significant investment in regeneration, including the transformation of the Guildhall into a Creative Industries Enterprise Centre, alongside a renewed focus on cultural participation, heritage, tourism and town centre vitality, is creating the foundations for a step change in the borough's cultural offer.

This role offers something increasingly rare in local government: a genuine opportunity to create, shape and lead a bold vision from a largely blank canvas. While Walsall benefits from important cultural assets, including The New Art Gallery Walsall, Walsall Arena & Arts Centre, the Leather Museum, Music Service, libraries, parks and green spaces, there remains significant untapped potential to bring these assets together into a coherent and compelling cultural, visitor economy and creative industries proposition. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to redefine how culture contributes to the borough's future, raising Walsall's profile regionally and nationally and creating a destination that attracts visitors, investment, creative talent and opportunity.

The role is intrinsically linked to the Council's wider regeneration ambitions and sits at the heart of a place-based transformation agenda. We are looking for an ambitious and entrepreneurial leader who sees culture not simply as a service, but as a catalyst for growth, innovation and change. There is scope to build new partnerships, secure major investment, develop a distinctive visitor economy offer, grow the creative industries ecosystem, maximise the contribution of leisure and cultural assets, and create events and programmes that change perceptions of the borough. This is an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy and make a visible difference to the lives of residents, businesses and communities across Walsall.

As Head of Culture, Creative Industries & Visitor Economy, you will provide strategic and inspirational leadership across a diverse portfolio of services and assets, ensuring culture and creativity are central to delivering regeneration, supporting economic growth and achieving the ambitions of We Are Walsall 2040.

If you are excited by the prospect of building something distinctive, elevating Walsall's profile to attract visitors and develop a cultural offer that is a source of pride for residents, this could be the most rewarding leadership role of your career.

View: Job Description and Employee Specification

Closing Date: 7^th October 2026

Dates for technical and final interviews confirmed below.

Proposed Technical interviews

Wednesday 21^st October – HOS Culture, Tourism and Leisure – all day

Proposed Final Interviews

Wednesday 28^th October – HOS Culture, Tourism and Leisure – 13.00 – 17.00

This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Legislation imposes restrictions on political activity for certain local government employees. This position is designated as a politically restricted (sensitive) post as set out in Part 1 the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990 (LGO(PR)R 1990) [SI 851] and S.30 of the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them.  Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.

We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time.

At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your ‘Supporting Information’ – reflects your own voice.