Programme Manager - Made Smarter in Sheffield

Department: Growth, Business and Skills

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Strategic Lead - Investment Zone (Paul Johnson)

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

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: Permanent

Salary: Grade 12 £55,949 - £59,907

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

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role. Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal. Interviews are planned to take place 10-12 February 2026.

About the role

Made Smarter is an ambitious programme seeking to digitise manufacturers and embed Industry 4.0 to enable regional businesses to become more productive, less wasteful, and more competitive with their continental counterparts. As Made Smarter Programme Manager you’ll develop strong working relationships with representatives from the combined authorities, local authorities and other key partners that make up Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, including the manufacturing sector, business associations and representative bodies, and central government departments.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide project oversight and input into collaborative projects linked to Made Smarter.
• Lead the engagement with Government departments for Made Smarter and be advocate for its extension.
• Provide leadership to the programme, managing the staff resource within SYMCA.
• Shape and deliver the overall Made Smarter programme strategy, ensuring all partners are informed and in agreement with the direction of delivery.
• Develop proposals and a plan for any potential future programme delivery.
• Work closely with other SYMCA colleagues on Made Smarter evaluation, monitoring, contracting, and reporting.
• Develop, prepare, and deliver Highlight Reports for Made Smarter meetings with internal and external partners.

About you

You will have good knowledge of economic development within the manufacturing sector with an understanding of the wider national economic landscape, including technological, environmental, and social factors. You will have significant knowledge and understanding of sub‑region/city region and regional agendas including the workings of Combined Authorities and Local Authorities and the way in which these interact with local partnerships and approaches.

We’d love to hear from candidates with the following experience:

• Understanding of public sector funding streams.
• Substantial experience of regularly writing strategic and highly complex reports in a clear, concise manner and to a high standard.
• Experience of working across organisational boundaries to achieve consensus and develop solutions to complex and politically sensitive issues.
• Substantial experience of identifying and building critical networks and relationships at a high level.
• Ability to create positive working relationships – both within local authorities and outside and an ability to deliver shared agendas.
• The ability to communicate complex and contentious information, both orally and in writing, to a range of audiences in a clear, articulate, balanced and succinct way.
• Experience of managing resources and projects and/or programmes.
• Substantial experience of leading and/or managing individual projects and providing leadership and oversight to a complex programme of activity.

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.

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.