South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Executive Director Growth, Business and Skills
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Help Shape the Future of South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is entering an exciting new chapter, with increased devolved powers, investment, and opportunities to create lasting benefits for people, businesses, and communities. As one of England's established Mayoral Combined Authorities, SYMCA brings together Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield to support a greener, fairer, and more prosperous South Yorkshire for everyone.
The region is home to a wealth of nationally important assets, including the UK's first Investment Zone, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District, and one of only five Defence Growth Deals. With a strong commitment to inclusive growth and partnership working, South Yorkshire is well placed to build on its strengths and create new opportunities for future generations.
SYMCA is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to join its Executive Leadership Board as Executive Director Growth, Business, and Skills. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, Katharine Hammond, you will provide strategic leadership to a directorate of approximately 100 colleagues and support the delivery of the Mayor's vision for South Yorkshire. You will oversee a broad portfolio spanning economic growth, business support, skills and employability, housing, spatial development, energy and environment, and major investment programmes.
As a trusted adviser to the Mayor and Combined Authority, you will contribute to the development of regional strategy, help shape conversations with national partners, and work collaboratively with businesses, investors, academic institutions, and government to create opportunity across South Yorkshire. You will play an important role in turning long-term ambitions into meaningful outcomes, helping to ensure that growth brings lasting benefits for residents, businesses, and communities throughout the region.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership for the delivery of South Yorkshire's Local Growth Plan and associated economic, skills, housing, and environmental priorities.
- Provide strategic and inclusive leadership to the Growth, Business, and Skills Directorate and its diverse portfolio of programmes and services.
- Develop and deliver major investment programmes across business growth, skills, infrastructure, housing, trade, investment, and clean energy.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the Mayor and Combined Authority Board.
- Build effective partnerships across local government, central government, academia, business, and the private sector.
- Represent South Yorkshire nationally and internationally, promoting the region's strengths and securing investment and policy opportunities.
- Foster innovation, evidence-based policymaking, and continuous improvement across the directorate.
We are looking for a strategic and inclusive leader who is passionate about creating opportunity and improving outcomes for communities, businesses, and places.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
You will bring:
- Significant senior leadership experience in economic development, business growth, public policy, regeneration, or a related field.
- A strong understanding of economic development, place-based growth, and the factors that help communities and businesses thrive.
- Experience of overseeing complex programmes, significant budgets, and a range of funding streams.
- The ability to work effectively across political, organizational, and geographical boundaries.
- Excellent partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Experience of bringing people together around a shared vision and delivering outcomes through collaboration.
- The confidence to engage constructively with elected members, government representatives, investors, businesses, and strategic partners.
- A commitment to inclusive growth, innovation, and public value.
Why Join SYMCA?
This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping the future of South Yorkshire at a pivotal moment in its development.
Working alongside colleagues, partners, and communities across the region, you will help realise the opportunities created through devolution, investment, and innovation.
You will contribute to creating sustainable growth, supporting businesses, and improving opportunities for people across South Yorkshire.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills