Description
* Hours: 37 hours
* Contract: 6 months (fixed term)
* Salary: £75,061 - £83,150
* Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
We’re looking for an experienced and dynamic communications professional to join the Communications and Marketing team for a fixed-term period while the current postholder is on a secondment.
We need someone who can hit the ground running, so the ideal candidate will be someone who is already operating at a senior level with experience of leading a multi-disciplinary communications team in a large organisation.
Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as set out within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal .
Please note, this is a deemed as a ‘sensitive’ politically restricted post. The effect of the designation in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 prevents employees from having any active political role either in or outside the workplace.
About the role
As Head of Communications, you will lead the organisation’s communications, marketing, events, digital, print, and design functions, working closely with and reporting to the Director of Communications. You will manage a multi‑disciplinary team, ensuring work is aligned to organisational priorities, resources are effectively allocated, and high‑impact projects are delivered to a consistently high standard.
In this role, you’ll oversee the quality and effectiveness of all communications outputs, support reputation management, and lead on crisis communications when required. You will provide strategic counsel to the Mayor and senior leadership team, shaping long‑term communication strategies that strengthen our profile and influence.
You’ll champion innovation, collaboration, and accountability—setting clear objectives, supporting professional development, and building a high‑performing, motivated team. You will also help embed a culture of evaluation and insight-led decision making across the communications function.
As a senior leader within the department, you will play a key role in shaping the future of the service and will deputise for the Director of Communications when needed. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a growing communications function and make a meaningful contribution to the future of South Yorkshire.
About you
We would love to hear from candidates who have the following:
* Substantial experience in a management role within a fast-paced communications team. Ideally with some experience gained working within a media, marketing or government environment.
* Experience of strategic leadership on internal and external communications, marketing and events, digital and creative content, and developing strategic plans for teams to deliver against. This includes overseeing large-scale marketing campaigns, communications campaigns, the creation of dynamic and engaging creative content for socials, web and publications, and delivering successful events to promote the work of an organisation.
* The ability to prioritise workloads of a large team across a range of functional areas and support the work of a whole organisation with competing demands and deadlines is crucial.
* Experience of motivating teams, managing teams, and has a commitment to supporting learning and development.
* Experience of leadership at senior level as this role will require them to work in a collaborative manner with the Mayor, elected Members, senior leaders across directorates, and local authority colleagues, external partners, community members and other bodies that interact with this role. Experience of providing strategic and tactical counsel to senior leaders and ability to influence, negotiate and challenge is a must.
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 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.
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) brings together the local authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield and to serve the communities and businesses of South Yorkshire. From transport to housing, from business growth to skills, the SYMCA has a great story to tell. We have ambitions to deliver recovery and renewal for people, businesses and places across South Yorkshire.
In recent years significant funding has been secured through the Transforming Cities Fund and a devolution deal, and further funding has recently been secured through the region’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. As a result we have a large and growing capital programme to deliver in support of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Mayor’s 2040 vision for transport. Join our workforce of talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions.
This is what a career at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is like, and this is where yours starts.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is currently in the process of reviewing its terms and conditions of employment including pay and grading. As part of this project, the post advertised may be subject to changes in the near future. All changes and any impact on individual posts will be discussed further should you be successfully appointed to the position you have applied for.
Please note that SYMCA follows a structured salary grading system for all roles, and the offered salary for each post will be at the starting point within the specified grade. We value the skills and experience of potential candidates, and there will be opportunities for salary enhancements as you grow within South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority does not hold a sponsorship licence and cannot provide Skilled Worker sponsorship for any roles advertised.
Please note, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than indicated on the Job Advert should we receive a high volume of applicants.
All applications must be submitted directly via our Careers Website