Head of Growth Area (2 roles available)

Head of Growth Area (2 roles available)

Application Deadline: 20 September 2026

Department: Growth, Business and Skills

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Compensation: £55,949 - £59,907 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 12 – £55,949 to £59,907
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

South Yorkshire is embarking on an ambitious programme of place-based growth, creating opportunities that will transform communities, attract investment and support long-term economic prosperity. Through our designated Growth Areas, we're bringing together infrastructure, innovation, business development and strategic investment to unlock the full potential of some of the region's most important locations.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead development and delivery programmes for one of South Yorkshire's key Growth Areas and play a central role in shaping its future. Working with public and private sector partners, investors, landowners and local authorities, you will help turn strategic ambitions into reality, delivering developments that create jobs, attract businesses and generate lasting benefits for residents and communities across the region.

About the role

As Head of Growth Area, you will provide strategic leadership for one of South Yorkshire's designated growth locations, helping to drive investment, coordinate delivery and create the conditions for sustainable economic growth. You'll work across a complex partnership landscape, bringing together stakeholders around a shared vision, managing competing priorities and ensuring projects move forward successfully. From shaping development strategies and securing funding to influencing investment decisions and overseeing delivery programmes, you'll play a leading role in transforming plans into tangible outcomes.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development and delivery of a long-term vision and programme for one of South Yorkshire's strategic Growth Areas.
• Build strong partnerships with local authorities, landowners, developers, investors, occupiers and funding bodies to accelerate delivery.
• Develop innovative approaches to site development, infrastructure planning and investment to unlock growth opportunities.
• Secure funding and investment from public and private sector sources to support delivery and maximise impact.
• Provide leadership across complex programmes, managing risks, dependencies and governance arrangements.
• Represent SYMCA at senior-level forums, influencing decisions that support the growth and success of the area.

About you

You will be a strategic and commercially minded leader with a passion for place-based growth and regeneration. Comfortable operating in complex environments, you'll be skilled at bringing diverse stakeholders together, identifying solutions to challenges and creating momentum behind ambitious projects.

Whether your background is in regeneration, development, infrastructure, planning, economic development or a related field, you'll bring a strong understanding of what it takes to deliver large-scale growth programmes successfully. You'll be motivated by the opportunity to shape places, unlock investment and create lasting economic benefits for communities across South Yorkshire.

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience leading complex regeneration, development or economic growth programmes.
• Strong knowledge of strategic site development, infrastructure planning, funding and delivery models.
• A proven ability to secure investment, negotiate commercial arrangements and develop successful partnerships.
• Experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships across public and private sector organisations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to engage confidently at a senior level.
• Strong leadership and programme management capability, with a track record of delivering outcomes in complex and evolving environments.

If you're excited by the opportunity to shape the future of one of South Yorkshire's key Growth Areas and deliver projects that will have a lasting impact on the region's economy and communities, 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.

• 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 addition 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.

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