Principal Officer - Strategic Partnerships

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Fixed term - 2 years

Salary: £61,352 - £66,514

Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)

We’re looking for a Principal Officer – Strategic Partnerships to lead and shape SYMCA’s approach to strategic partnerships across South Yorkshire and nationally. You’ll manage a small team of partnership leads, working with key sectors, communities, and national Mayoral networks to advance joint priorities, influence policy, and unlock opportunities for the region. This is a senior role with significant impact—helping to strengthen relationships that drive economic growth and deliver the Mayor’s vision.

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile.

About the role

In this role, you’ll take ownership of SYMCA’s strategic partnership strategy, ensuring alignment with the Corporate Plan and Mayoral priorities. You’ll work closely with local authorities, anchor institutions, and national networks to maximise collective impact, share best practice, and promote South Yorkshire’s strengths. Your work will involve collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders to deliver integrated activities that support regional outcomes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage SYMCA’s approach to strategic partnerships locally and nationally.
• Collaborate with internal teams on business engagement, trade and investment, place marketing, and events to promote South Yorkshire’s economic strengths.
• Help steer the development and delivery of SYMCA’s Engagement Strategy to ensure a coordinated approach to stakeholder engagement.
• Identify and establish new strategic partnerships to drive engagement initiatives aligned with regional priorities.
• Monitor emerging trends and best practices to inform strategic recommendations and continuous improvement.
• Utilise digital tools to manage stakeholders, record activities, and provide updates for transparency and effective engagement.

About you

We’re looking for a strategic thinker and relationship builder with experience managing high-level partnerships. You’ll need strong leadership skills, excellent communication and negotiation abilities, and a deep understanding of regional economic development. If you thrive in complex environments and want to help shape South Yorkshire’s future, this role is for you.

• Experience in managing high-level strategic partnerships.
• Understanding of regional economic development and public-private collaboration.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work across complex organisational structures.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and using digital tools to manage relationships.
• Experience presenting, organising events, and managing meetings.
• Knowledge of data governance protocols.
• Interest in devolution, Mayoral Combined Authorities, and economic development.
• Experience managing budgets and commissioning work.

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 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.
• Flexible Hours Scheme – Most roles within SYMCA work under the Flexi-Scheme which allows office-based employees’ flexibility and discretion over their working hours.
• 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.