South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Director of GBS Policy
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Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent - Full Time
Salary: Grade 16 £85,038 - £93,310
Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
This is a senior leadership opportunity to help shape the future of the Growth, Business and Skills Directorate and landscape across South Yorkshire. As SYMCA continues to strengthen its focus on delivery, you will play a central role in ensuring strategy, policy, performance and governance work together to support ambitious outcomes for residents, businesses and communities.
Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.
Please note: This role is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Postholders are prohibited from standing for elected office (except Town or Parish Councils) and from engaging in certain political activities, including canvassing or acting as an officer of a political party.
Interviews for this role will be held Wednesday 29th July.
About The Role
As Director of GBS Policy, you will provide strategic leadership across the Growth, Business and Skills Directorate, working closely with the Executive Director to shape priorities and drive delivery. You will ensure policy, strategy, governance and performance activities are aligned, enabling the directorate to deliver its objectives effectively and respond to emerging opportunities and challenges.
You will oversee a broad portfolio of work, including business and employer engagement, support for young people and skills development, governance, performance management, and strategic planning. The role involves advising senior leaders, elected members and key stakeholders on complex and often high-profile issues, including responding to evolving national policy and government initiatives.
You will lead the development of governance, assurance and performance frameworks, ensuring robust decision-making and accountability across the directorate. Working with partners across government, education, business and local authorities, you will build and maintain strong relationships that support collaboration and shared priorities.
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The role also includes responsibility for directorate-wide planning, data and intelligence, helping to ensure decisions are informed by evidence and that resources are focused on delivering impact. You will represent SYMCA at regional and national forums, promoting South Yorkshire’s interests and influencing future policy development.
The role will also pick up priority policy areas as surge resource, where appropriate, driving delivery of the most MCA priorities and helping the Directorate to respond at pace.
About You
You are a strategic and influential leader with experience operating at a senior level within a complex organisation. You have a strong track record of developing policy, shaping strategy and driving performance, with the ability to translate ambitious objectives into practical and deliverable plans.
You are experienced in working with senior stakeholders, including government departments, elected members, businesses and partner organisations, and are confident navigating complex political and organisational environments. You have excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus and develop strong partnerships.
You are a collaborative leader who can inspire and develop high-performing teams, creating an inclusive culture focused on delivery, innovation and continuous improvement. You are comfortable working across multiple priorities, using evidence, insight and sound judgement to support decision-making and achieve meaningful outcomes.
You are passionate about supporting economic growth, skills development and opportunity, and are committed to making a positive impact for the people, businesses and communities of South Yorkshire.
Benefits
All colleagues have access to a Local Government Pension Scheme and the chance to be part of an organisation where you can really make a difference. Located in Sheffield City Centre, we are well-placed for transport links and encourage employees to take advantage of the active travel facilities. Work/life balance is extremely important to us here at SYMCA with our recognised family/friendly policies, genuine work flexibility, recognition, and shared success.
In addition to the above, some of our benefits include -
- Holiday Entitlement – From 28 to 36 days annual leave entitlement (depending on length of service) plus bank holidays. Pro-rata for part time colleagues.
- Annual Leave Purchase Scheme – The ability to purchase up to a further 15 days per year in addition to your normal annual leave
- Hybrid working – Our offices are a space where we come together and collaborate. Most of our roles are offered on a hybrid basis with the exception of some support roles being onsite full time. Please note, unless specified within the job advert, we cannot accommodate remote working contracts.
- Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours. Under the scheme employees can accrue a defined amount of credit or debit of working hours, and to take time-off in the form of Flexi-Leave or banked Annual Leave.
- Rewarding You - Reducing everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more with Reward Gateway and Cycle-to-Work schemes.
- Training on the job - Support with upskilling skills through on-the-job training and qualifications
- Professional Membership Fees – Where membership to Professional bodies is applicable to your role, SYMCA will reimburse your membership fees where applicable and following approval by Line Management.
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Diversity at South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority
Our workforce is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
All employees are eligible to request Flexible Working arrangements from day one of employment as such all requests will be considered subject to operation requirements.
Where candidates share disabilities within the application process, if they demonstrate that they meet all essential criteria from the Role Profile within their application, they will automatically be invited to interview.
If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact recruitment@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.
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