Head of Innovation

Description

Hours :                   37 hours

Contract :              Permanent

Salary :                   £65,966 - £71,091

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

This position is part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's participation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Innovation team (i-team) programme.

Charged with helping city officials and civic partners design and implement solutions that meet pressing local challenges, the i-team will expertly deploy data, collect insight, and collaborate across sectors to develop resident-centred interventions that improve people's lives. The i-team will receive technical assistance from regional and global specialists, and benefit from learnings from peers in city halls across the region and around the world.

To date, the Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative has reached over 100 cities across 16 countries and four continents—representing more than 100 million residents—and inspired hundreds of other local governments to embrace innovation systems and practices.

About the role

This is an exciting time to be part of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.  As a Strategic Authority, we are eligible for the highest level of powers and funding through devolution, including eligibility for integrated settlement from April 2026, allowing us to align the priorities of people in South Yorkshire with how we spend our money.

Our Mayor has ambitious goals for South Yorkshire across growth, our communities, the environment and our health, underpinned by the six principles for how we work outlined in our Corporate Plan.

To support these objectives we are establishing a new Innovation Team (i-team), established in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ i-teams programme. This exciting initiative empowers cities to tackle complex challenges through innovation, collaboration, and data-driven approaches. As part of the i-team, you will work on two key challenges : improving early years literacy outcomes and enhancing insights to inform the future of South Yorkshire’s transport network. These roles offer a unique opportunity to shape transformative solutions that deliver real impact for residents.

This is a pivotal leadership role within SYMCA’s newly established Innovation Team. The Head of Innovation (HOI) will lead the development and delivery of transformative innovation programmes that address complex regional challenges.

About you

As the Head of Innovation will embed a culture of innovation across the organisation, working collaboratively with senior leaders, stakeholders, and communities to co-create scalable solutions that improve outcomes for South Yorkshire residents.

You will be responsible for strategic oversight of the i-team, ensuring alignment with Mayoral priorities and corporate objectives. This includes leading cross-functional teams, managing innovation portfolios, and institutionalising innovation practices across SYMCA.

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 -

Local Government Pension Scheme – A comprehensive and attractive pension scheme with the ability to be flexible in the number of contributions you pay in along with peace of mind from immediate life cover and terminal illness cover after 2 years.

Continuous Employment – If you are currently employed by a Local Government employer, or any other employer under the Redundancy Modification Scheme, and do not have a break in service, your length of service can be transferred upon starting. This will apply to entitlement calculations including annual leave, maternity leave and enhanced sick pay.

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.

All applications must be submitted directly via our Careers Website