Interim Director of Communications

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 99,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Job summary

South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority is seeking an Interim Director of Communications to lead the communications and marketing function from the Sheffield Head Office. You will drive strategy, oversee media relations, digital and campaigns, and advise senior leaders, including the Mayor, on high‑level communications matters.

The role is 37 hours per week, fixed term for 6–9 months, with hybrid working in Sheffield.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading modern multimedia communications functions.
• Led diverse communications services and managed competing priorities.
• Strong strategic judgement with political awareness and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Define strategic direction and priorities for communications and marketing.
• Lead a modern multidisciplinary communications service, building capability and performance.
• Advise the Mayor and executive leaders on complex, politically sensitive issues.
• Manage budgets and relationships with external agencies.
• Represent the organisation at regional and national forums and deputise for the Executive Director.

Skills

Media relations

Marketing

Digital

Content

Campaigns

Stakeholder comms

Job description

Interim Director of Communications

Application Deadline: 22 November 2026

Department: Communications and Marketing

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Jon Tunney

Compensation: £99,372 - £106,612 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Interim (6-9 months)
• Salary: Grade 17 - £99,372 - £106,612
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

An opportunity to lead the communications function of one of England’s most ambitious Mayoral Combined Authorities.

South Yorkshire is changing rapidly and we need an exceptional communications leader to help shape how the organisation tells its story, builds trust and communicates its ambitions.

We are looking for a dynamic senior comms professional to provide strategic leadership across our communications and marketing function on an interim basis.

This is a role with genuine organisational influence. You will work at senior level with the new Executive Director of Communications, Engagement and Citizen Experience and play an important role in bringing together three distinct parts of the organisation into a new team. You will have significant and direct exposure to the Mayor, and play a central role in shaping how the Combined Authority communicates its priorities to residents, businesses, partners, the media and national audiences.

Please note: This role is politically restricted under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Postholders are prohibited from standing for elected office (except Town or Parish Councils) and from engaging in certain political activities, including canvassing or acting as an officer of a political party.

About the role

You will be the senior strategic lead for a diverse function spanning media relations, marketing, digital and content, campaigns and stakeholder communications

• work with the exec director to define the strategic direction and priorities for the communications and marketing function
• lead and develop a modern multidisciplinary communications service, creating the capability, culture and performance needed to deliver at pace
• act as a senior and trusted communications adviser to the Mayor
• provide robust reputational defence for the organisation, anticipating and managing risk and leading responses to media scrutiny, public criticism and crisis situations.
• advise executive leaders, elected members, boards and senior external stakeholders on complex and politically sensitive issues.
• contribute to corporate leadership and organisation-wide decision-making, providing constructive challenge and specialist communications expertise.
• lead significant change, transformation and service improvement across the function.
• maintain a clear view of the rapidly changing media, digital and technology landscape and ensure our communications keep pace with changing audiences.
• manage significant budgets and relationships with external creative agencies
• represent the organisation at regional and national forums and deputise for the Executive Director

About you

You will be an established senior communications leader with extensive experience across the modern multimedia landscape.

You will have led significant, diverse communications functions or services, managed competing priorities and delivered through other senior leaders and managers.

You will bring outstanding strategic judgement and political awareness, with the ability to navigate complex issues, anticipate reputational risks and provide clear, sometimes challenging, advice.

Why South Yorkshire?

The Combined Authority is responsible for an increasingly broad and ambitious programme of work across South Yorkshire.

We work across organisational and geographical boundaries to improve opportunities, reduce inequalities and support economic growth across the region.

As Communications Director, you will lead a professional communications function, but you will also be part of the wider leadership of an ambitious organisation.

This could be the right role for you if…

You are at your best when the issues are complicated, the stakes are high and the answer isn't obvious.

You enjoy working with senior leaders who need honest, authoritative advice rather than simply someone to execute a communications plan.

You can move comfortably between long-term strategy and an urgent reputational issue.

And you want a role where you can leave a tangible mark on an organisation, its people and its approach to communications.

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.