South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Programme Officer - Innovation
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Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Grade 9 – £42,840 to £46,142
Location: Sheffield (Hybrid Working)
Innovation has the power to transform economies, create new opportunities and help businesses thrive. At SYMCA, we're working to strengthen South Yorkshire's innovation ecosystem by supporting collaboration between businesses, universities, research organisations and funders, helping great ideas move from concept to commercial success. Through a range of programmes and initiatives, we're creating the conditions for innovation, growth and investment to flourish across the region.
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to projects that make a real difference to South Yorkshire's future. As Programme Officer - Innovation, you'll play a key role in supporting the delivery of innovation programmes that help businesses adopt new technologies, accelerate growth and unlock investment opportunities. Working with a wide range of partners, you'll help ensure that projects are delivered successfully and continue to deliver positive outcomes for the region.
Interviews will be held - Tuesday 29th September 2026 - In person
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.
About The Role
As a Programme Officer within the Innovation team, you'll support the successful delivery of a portfolio of innovation projects and programmes, working closely with stakeholders from academia, industry, funding bodies and the public sector. You'll coordinate activity, monitor progress, manage programme information and help ensure projects remain on track, while building effective relationships with partners and supporting the identification of future opportunities. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a collaborative environment and wants to contribute to programmes that support innovation, research commercialisation and business growth.
In This Role, You Will
- Support the day-to-day management and delivery of innovation programmes and projects across South Yorkshire.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with universities, businesses, research organisations, funders and delivery partners.
- Monitor project performance, maintain programme documentation and help identify and manage risks and issues.
- Prepare reports, briefings and performance information for senior leaders, governance boards and stakeholders.
- Support funding, financial monitoring, procurement and compliance activities to ensure programmes are effectively managed.
- Contribute to the continuous improvement of programme delivery processes and identify opportunities to enhance outcomes.
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About You
You will be an organised and proactive programme professional who enjoys working with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve shared goals. You'll be comfortable managing competing priorities, maintaining attention to detail and building productive working relationships, while keeping a clear focus on delivery and outcomes.
Whether your background is in programme management, economic development, innovation, research, business support or a related field, you'll have a passion for helping projects succeed and an interest in how innovation can drive growth and create opportunities. You'll enjoy working collaboratively, solving problems and supporting initiatives that have a positive impact across South Yorkshire.
We're Looking For Someone Who Can Demonstrate
- Experience of managing or supporting projects and programmes in a complex environment.
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage a wide range of stakeholders.
- Good analytical and problem-solving abilities, with experience of monitoring performance and producing reports.
- Experience of financial monitoring, procurement processes or compliance activities.
- An interest in innovation, research commercialisation, business growth or economic development, with a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes.
If you're looking for an opportunity to contribute to innovative programmes that support businesses, communities and economic growth across South Yorkshire, we'd love to hear from you.
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.
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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 additional 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.
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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