Manchester City Council is recruiting a Principal Policy Officer to join its City Policy service, with applications closing at 11.59pm on 9 November 2026. The permanent role carries a Grade 9 salary of £48,738 to £53,051 a year, pro rata, with a bar at £51,928, and is based at the Town Hall Extension in Albert Square, Manchester.

The post is full time at 35 hours a week and offered on a hybrid working basis. Interviews will be held in person. The council states that it cannot offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already hold valid documentation showing a right to work in the UK.

The successful candidate will join the Strategy and Economic Policy team, part of the council's City Policy service. The service develops and delivers the city's strategic priorities under the Our Manchester Strategy 2025-35, the ten-year plan for the city, bringing together evidence, partnerships and strategic thinking to tackle Manchester's biggest opportunities and challenges.

In the role, the Principal Policy Officer will lead the development of new city-wide strategies, policies and initiatives, and support delivery of the Our Manchester Strategy and the city's economic strategy, Investing in Success. The work involves building shared priorities with partners across the city and the wider city-region, gathering evidence, insight and engagement to inform decisions, and providing briefings, reports and advice to senior officers, elected members and partner organisations. The postholder will also manage projects and programmes that contribute to the council's strategic priorities.

The council is looking for someone motivated by making a difference in Manchester who enjoys turning ideas, evidence and partnerships into practical action. Applicants may currently work in policy, strategy, economic development, research, public affairs, local government or consultancy, but the council says the most important quality is experience of working on complex issues with a range of partners and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Successful candidates are likely to show experience of developing strategies, policies, programmes or projects that address real-world challenges, the ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders and find common ground, strong judgement, a proactive and well-organised approach, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. A commitment to equality and inclusion, and to ensuring Manchester's success benefits all residents, is also required.

It would be helpful, though not essential, for applicants to understand Manchester's economy and its opportunities and challenges, to have experience of developing, implementing or evaluating policy or strategy, and to know local government or the wider public policy environment. The council says it actively encourages applications from people of all ages and backgrounds, and particularly from applicants from ethnic minority communities and disabled people, who remain underrepresented in parts of its workforce.

The role comes with up to 26 days of annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years of service, the option to buy up to two extra weeks of leave, up to three days of volunteering leave, a defined benefit pension scheme, enhanced parental and carers leave, and employee discounts and perks. The council reviews pay each year and recognises three trade unions. Applicants who have completed the GM Elevate leadership development programme are asked to say so in their personal or supporting statement.

Anyone with questions about the vacancy can contact the hiring manager, Peter Norris, to arrange a discussion. The council stresses that this route is for vacancy enquiries only and should not be used to submit applications. Applications must be made through the council's jobs website before the 11.59pm deadline on 9 November 2026.