Description
* Hours: 37 hours
* Contract: Permanent - Full Time
* Salary: Grade 11 £51,357 - £54,495
* Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
We’re looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead the development, monitoring, and delivery of SYMCA’s Transport Branding Programme initially, with the potential to move onto other transport projects and programmes. This high‑profile role involves working closely with senior leaders, Directors, multiple stakeholders and cross‑functional teams to ensure the programme aligns with strategic timelines, governance requirements, and regional priorities.
You’ll oversee all programme workstreams, manage risks, identify interdependencies, and ensure successful delivery into day‑to‑day operations. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a major transformation programme that will influence how transport in South Yorkshire looks, feels, and functions.
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 vacancy may close earlier than the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
About the role
In this role, you’ll take ownership of the end‑to‑end programme delivery—leading multidisciplinary teams, embedding rigorous governance, and ensuring progress is clearly reported to senior leadership. You’ll drive cross‑organisation collaboration, manage stakeholder relationships, and ensure that the Transport Branding Programme delivers its intended benefits on time, on budget, and to a high standard.
Key responsibilities include:
* Lead and co‑ordinate the end-to-end delivery of the Branding Programme, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, timelines, and budgets.
* Manage and co‑ordinate multi‑disciplinary workstream teams, optimising resources and ensuring effective collaboration across internal colleagues, external partners, and contractors.
* Develop and maintain programme governance structures, ensuring robust reporting, clear decision‑making pathways, and timely escalation of issues, risks, and dependencies.
* Drive effective communication and engagement across the programme, ensuring consistent messaging, clear updates, and strong relationships with internal teams, operators, regulators, and government partners.
* Manage consultation processes and public engagement activities to maintain confidence, transparency, and support for the programme.
* Drive business change across SYMCA to embed branding processes and ensure successful roll‑out across South Yorkshire.
* Ensure all activity aligns with SYMCA policies, including health and safety, equality, diversity, inclusion, and governance requirements.
About you
We’re seeking a confident and strategic programme manager with experience overseeing large, multi‑disciplinary programmes in complex environments. You’ll need excellent leadership, communication, and analytical skills, alongside the ability to navigate competing priorities and deliver high‑quality outcomes.
Essential:
* Substantial experience in programme and project management, particularly involving multi‑disciplinary teams and in a multi stakeholder environment
* Experience across all stages of programme management, including controls, governance, risk, and reporting.
* Proven experience in managing and motivating project teams and influencing performance in matrix environments.
* Level 6 qualification in a relevant subject (e.g., Programme/Project Management) or equivalent experience.
* Practitioner‑level project management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2) or willingness to obtain it.
* Strong understanding of political environments and the ability to provide clear, accurate advice.
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