* Hours: 37 hours
* Contract: Fixed Term - Full Time (10-months)
* Salary: Grade 10 £47,181 - £50,269
* Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is offering an exceptional opportunity to lead delivery of one of the Mayor's flagship priorities: the Beds for Babies:
Safe Space to Sleep
Programme. This 10‑month maternity cover is ideal for an experienced programme leader who thrives in complex, multi‑partner environments and wants to deliver meaningful impact for families across our communities.
This is a key role at the heart of a high‑profile regional programme, working closely with partners across the NHS, local authorities, Family Hubs, the voluntary sector, and corporate organisations.
Role
Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile with a focus on the below points being key:
* Experience of leading large‑scale, multi‑agency programmes, including governance and benefits realisation.
* Experience of working with senior professionals at Board / Executive Director / Senior Manager level.
* Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
* Excellent organisational and time‑management skills, particularly when working under pressure
Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.
For this role, we are open to considering applications on a Secondment basis from other Local Authority employers.
About The Role
As Programme Manager, you will provide strategic leadership and oversight for all elements of the 4‑year Safe Space to Sleep Programme, including:
* Delivering a bed and bedding for every child in South Yorkshire who needs one.
* Overseeing four test and learn pilots in Goldthorpe, Mexborough, Swinton and Gleadless.
* Managing an ambitious evaluation programme to shape future regional investment.
You will ensure robust governance, effective programme controls, and strong benefits realisation — demonstrating the measurable difference this programme is making in people's lives.
What You'll Do
* Provide strategic direction across all programme workstreams, ensuring alignment with SYMCA priorities and strong delivery performance.
* Lead cross‑functional teams and build trusted partnerships across public, voluntary and community sectors.
* Maintain high‑quality governance, risk management and assurance processes.
* Drive benefits realisation through clear outcomes tracking and impactful reporting.
* Oversee evaluation activity and embed continuous improvement.
* Represent SYMCA at regional and national forums, producing high‑quality briefings, updates and presentations.
* Manage programme resources and budget effectively, ensuring value for money.
About You
We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:
* Experience leading large, multi‑agency programmes in complex systems.
* Strong programme and project management capability (MSP Practitioner desirable).
* Excellent relationship‑building and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leaders.
* Strong organisational skills and the ability to thrive in fast‑paced, unpredictable environments.
* Understanding of local government and NHS systems.
* A commitment to SYMCA's values of Collaboration, Integrity, Ambition, and Accountability.
For full details of the skills, knowledge, and experience required for this role, please refer to the attached role profile.
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 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 - or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.