Description
* Hours: 37 hours
* Contract: Permanent
* Salary: £91,900 - £103,306 (Pay award pending)
* Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
Please note: This role is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Postholders are prohibited from standing for elected office (except Town or Parish Councils) and from engaging in certain political activities, including canvassing or acting as an officer of a political party. Roles listed as "specified" in Section 2.1 of the Act have no right of appeal. Further details are available on request and are available in the SYMCA - Politically Restricted Post List
Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal .
Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undergo police vetting as part of the pre-employment checks. This process can take up to 12 weeks, and we are unable to confirm a start date until vetting has been fully completed.
Please note South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority does not hold a sponsorship licence and cannot provide Skilled Worker sponsorship for any roles advertised.
About the role
At South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), we’re driving forward ambitious plans to transform transport, infrastructure, and services across the region. To deliver on these priorities, we’re looking for a dynamic and experienced Director of Commercial to lead our corporate commercial function and ensure we achieve the best possible outcomes for South Yorkshire.
You’ll be part of a team committed to making a real difference for South Yorkshire—creating better transport, stronger communities, and a thriving economy.
This is a pivotal role at the heart of SYMCA’s operations. You’ll lead teams in the development of strategies for procurement, supply chain management, and asset management —overseeing complex, high-value commercial operations that deliver quality, value for money, and protect SYMCA’s interests.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading the development of SYMCA’s corporate commercial strategies and plans, ensuring readiness to deliver major transport and infrastructure programmes, including bus franchising and estates.
* Providing expert commercial advice and market insight, acting as SYMCA’s intelligent client for external services and investments.
* Overseeing complex procurement and contract management activity, embedding best practice and ensuring compliance.
* Driving supply chain resilience and proactively managing risks and opportunities.
* Leading the Facilities and Assets function, maximising return on investment and managing acquisitions, disposals, and transfers.
* Ensuring robust health and safety compliance in the delivery of those functions.
* Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including partners such as South Yorkshire Future Trams Ltd and South Yorkshire Police.
About you
We’re looking for a strategic leader with extensive experience across the full commercial portfolio—procurement, contract management, supply chain, asset management, and health and safety. You’ll bring:
* A degree-level qualification (or equivalent experience) and evidence of advanced professional development.
* A proven track record of shaping and delivering commercial strategies in complex organisations.
* Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management.
* Excellent negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills.
* The ability to lead high-performing teams and drive continuous improvement.
* Experience of working in a political environment is desirable but not essential.
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 -
Enhanced 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 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