At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to drive innovation and manage impactful change projects.
- Company: Be part of South Yorkshire Police, committed to fairness, integrity, and trust.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, flexible working, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid role with excellent career growth and a focus on work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: A Levels or equivalent experience, with strong planning and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 32613 - 43668 £ per year.
Role: Innovation and Collaboration Project Officer
Department: Business Change & Innovation
Location: Carbrook, Sheffield
Salary: £32,613 - £43,668
Hours: 37
Contract Type: Temporary until 2nd October 2027
In this role you will work as part of a team to analyse, plan and manage the implementation of change across the Innovation and Collaboration portfolios at South Yorkshire Police in line with the forces key strategies and business requirements.
Key responsibilities:
- Direct, research, analyse and produce reports formulating appropriate recommendations and action plans within agreed parameters.
- Identify opportunities for effectiveness and smarter ways of working for the force.
- Produce strategic papers and briefings in such a way as to make the information understandable to the target audience, enabling them to make informed decisions based on that information.
- Effectively manage resources, technical planning, procurement and implementation of force development projects. From initial conception and planning to implementation and subsequent monitoring.
- Ensure best practice project management principles and techniques are adopted throughout the project lifecycle.
- Critically evaluate and adapt service delivery to meet the changing needs of customers ensuring effective liaison and establish open communication channels.
- Liaise with other practitioners and specialist functions in developing innovative, timely and cost-effective best practice solutions that can be implemented across the force.
- Participate in the decision-making process and make recommendations on a range of issues on a regular basis, to the Innovation and Collaboration PMO Manager.
- May be required to work outside normal working hours and travel around and outside of the force area.
- Performs such other duties as reasonably correspond to the general character of the post and are commensurate with its level of responsibility.
This is a career graded post; the high level of grading (Band E) will be achieved upon successful completion of Prince 2 or equivalent and submission of a portfolio of evidence.
Skills and experience:
- Educated to A Level in an appropriate subject matter area or equivalent work experience.
- Evidence to support effective planning and organising.
- Knowledge of project planning and methodologies.
- Experience of strategic report writing.
- Experience of communicating in various formats at various key stakeholders.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (specifically Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and experience with project planning software.
Skills and experience as documented in the role profile need to be evidenced in your application to be considered for interview.
What we offer:
- A highly competitive salary and access to a generous pension scheme.
- Generous annual leave allowance.
- A wide range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
- Flexible working arrangements including flexi-time and hybrid working.
- A transparent and collaborative team culture underpinned by our core values of Fairness, Integrity & Trust.
- Comprehensive range of development and leadership courses to develop your career with South Yorkshire Police.
- Employee Assistant Programme (accessible 24/7) offering confidential support and advice.
- Flexible lifestyle benefits such as: Blue Light Card, Company Shop, Cycle to work scheme.
- Committed to embedding sustainability: South Yorkshire Police Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025.
- Membership to the Sports and Social Club.
- Access to a wide range of staff support groups and networks.
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the minimum requirement checkable history criteria, which must be taken into account for individuals applying to work with South Yorkshire Police in any capacity. A minimum checkable history of 5 years is required for this role and successfully undergoing recruitment vetting procedure is a pre-requisite of employment with South Yorkshire Police.
Appearance & Standards:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to striking a proportionate balance between self-expression and the need to maintain role sensitive professional standards in dress and appearance. Officers, staff, and volunteers of South Yorkshire Police are permitted to have tattoos visible whilst on duty provided the tattoo is not considered to be unacceptable or otherwise inappropriate. Tattoos will be reviewed as part of the recruitment and selection process.
South Yorkshire Police’s overarching aim is to deliver an excellent police service to support safer communities. The public’s assessment of our excellence is influenced by the level of trust and confidence in us, as an organisation and as individuals. In comparison to the general public, police officers and police staff are held to a higher standards of behaviour and accountability. In applying to join the police, applicants are accepting of these higher standards and understand the implications on their right to privacy.
South Yorkshire Police’s Key Values:
At South Yorkshire Police we have 3 key values which run through everything we do: Fairness, Integrity & Trust.
Smarter ways of Working:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to developing working practices which assist staff to balance their personal and professional lives, whilst meeting the needs of the organisation. This in turn enables SYP to provide an outstanding service to the community. There are 3 different categories as part of this which are: Fixed, Field and Hybrid. This role has been evaluated as a hybrid role.
Contact details:
For further information about the role, please contact: Jessica Shaw on 07824 083807
Closing Date: 5th August 2026
Closing dates are not normally extended, other than in exceptional circumstances and agreement is made between the Recruitment Manager and the Line Manager for the role.
Candidate Information:
Please note that, should you be successful at the interview stage and before appointment, the relevant pre-employment checks are required. These include references, medical clearance, vetting clearance and sickness absence criteria check.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Applications are particularly welcome from female and ethnic minority candidates. It is really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from these valuable underrepresented groups.
If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on positiveaction@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
In addition, we will look to support anyone who requires Part Time/Job share working hours.
Internal Candidates:
This vacancy is temporary therefore, you must have the support of your current Line Manager to apply. If you are a permanent member of staff, this would be classed as a secondment opportunity. If you are on a fixed term contract, you must contact the Recruitment Team before applying.
Please ensure that you and your current line manager complete the attached consent form. Please email the completed form to the hiring line manager, with the role title and the closing date stated in the subject of your email. Without support, your application will not be considered any further.
Further Information:
This role is offered on a fixed-term basis in accordance with applicable employment legislation and South Yorkshire Police policy. Fixed-term contracts are used where there is a genuine business need, such as project-based work, temporary cover or time-limited funding. The fixed term period is subject to change, linked to the posts requirements and may be subject to extension or early termination in line with appropriate notice period. All fixed-term employees will receive equal treatment and access to opportunities in line with our commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices. Where appropriate, fixed-term roles may be made permanent without the need for a further recruitment process.
Documents to Review:
- For the Police Staff Recruitment Vetting Handbook - Please Click here
- For Application Guidance and Tips - Please Click Here
- For the FIT Values of South Yorkshire Police - Please Click Here
- For Secondment Approval - Please Click Here
View our recruitment video: https://youtu.be/2dGn5qti7_c
Innovation and Collaboration Project Officer in Sheffield employer: South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to become a fully accredited detective through the Detective Constable Entry Programme. With a commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and a focus on employee development, the organisation fosters a collaborative work culture that values diversity and provides comprehensive training for career progression. Located in a vibrant region, employees benefit from a competitive starting salary and the chance to make a meaningful impact in their community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation and Collaboration Project Officer in Sheffield
✨Dive into Innovation Events
Get yourself noticed by attending innovation and R&D conferences in your area, like the local hackathons or industry networking events. These are great opportunities to connect with key players in the field and potentially uncover temporary roles at companies like South Yorkshire Police.
✨Leverage Online Communities
Join online platforms like LinkedIn Groups or Slack channels focused on R&D and innovation. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and make your name known—this visibility could lead to temporary gigs or even recommendations from industry peers.
✨Showcase Your Skills with a Portfolio
Create a digital portfolio that highlights your previous projects in R&D and innovation management. Include case studies or any innovative solutions you’ve developed—this will not only impress recruiters but make you stand out for temporary roles like the one at South Yorkshire Police.
✨Explore Flexible Opportunities on Our Platform
Make sure to check out temporary positions posted directly on our website. We often have fresh opportunities, so applying through us can give you an edge in landing roles that fit your skills in innovation and R&D management.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation and Collaboration Project Officer in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Creative Side:In the world of innovation and R&D management, we want to see your creative thinking skills shining through! Make sure to include examples of how you've successfully led or contributed to innovative projects in your CV. Highlight any initiatives where your ideas helped bring a product to market or improved a process.
Flexibility is Key:Since this is a temporary role, emphasise your adaptability in your application. Mention situations where you've had to quickly pivot or learn new skills to tackle a problem. This shows we can rely on you to hit the ground running and contribute right away.
Be Specific About Your Impact:Use quantifiable achievements to outline the impact of your work in previous roles. Talk about specific projects you've worked on in R&D, detailing how your management improved outcomes, timeframes, or innovation metrics. Numbers speak volumes and help us understand your contributions better!
Tailor Your Application for Us:When applying, make sure to tailor your CV and cover letter specifically for South Yorkshire Police. Research what ongoing projects or innovations they are working on and align your skills and experiences with those areas. It shows your interest in the company and the role, and makes your application pop!
How to prepare for a job interview at South Yorkshire Police
✨Show Your Creative Process
For a temporary role in innovation R&D management, it's crucial to demonstrate how you approach problem-solving and creativity. Be ready to share specific projects or ideas where you've turned a concept into a tangible solution. Think about what tools or methodologies you've used—like design thinking or Agile practices—and be prepared to discuss them!
✨Brush Up on Technical Skills
Innovation roles often involve the use of specific software or tools for project management and development. Make sure you're familiar with industry-standard programmes, whether that’s project management tools like Trello or Asana, or prototyping software. Brush up on these tools so you can confidently discuss how they enhance your workflow.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Given that this is a temporary position, showcasing your ability to adapt quickly is key. Be prepared to discuss examples where you’ve had to pivot or alter your approach on short notice. Employers want to know you can hit the ground running and adjust your strategies as needed.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect interviews in innovation roles to include scenario-based questions that assess how you’d handle real-life challenges. Think of hypothetical situations related to project delays or team conflicts and how you would address them. Having a couple of these in your back pocket can really demonstrate your critical thinking and leadership skills!
