Policy and Improvement Officer

Westfield Secondary School; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheffield City Council is seeking 3 x Policy & Improvement Officers to shape local and national policy. You will lead on evidence-based policy and strategy, provide high-quality advice, and manage projects that turn ambition into action.

You’ll engage with Ministers, national partners, and diverse communities to deliver for Sheffield. The Strategy & Public Affairs Team sits at the heart of the Council, working across local, regional and national government to influence outcomes and deliver

Qualifications

• Experience in policy development and public affairs.
• Ability to work with cross‑functional teams and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead on development of evidence-based policy and strategy.
• Provide high-quality advice, public affairs and manage projects to turn ambition into action.

Job description

3 x Policy & Improvement Officers

We’re looking for talented people to bring ideas and energy to our

Shape policy.

Solve problems.

Deliver for Sheffield.

3 x Policy & Improvement Officers

We’re looking for talented people to bring ideas and energy to our Strategy & Public Affairs Team at an exciting time for the city.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the intersection of local, regional and national government, taking on high-profile projects and helping shape the future of one of the UK’s leading cities.

Our Strategy & Public Affairs Team sits at the heart of the Council. We help develop strategies and policies that deliver Sheffield’s ambitions, bring together multidisciplinary teams to tackle complex problems, and make sure our work is delivering for Sheffield’s residents.

One week you could be helping develop a major city strategy. The next you might be tackling a difficult policy challenge, briefing senior leaders on a government announcement, or supporting engagement with Ministers and national partners.

We also help Sheffield make its voice heard, working with key regional and national partners and networks.

In the Grade 9 roles, you will lead on the development of evidence-based policy and strategy, provide high-quality advice, public affairs and lead projects that turn ambition into action.

You don’t have to be a career policy professional

We want people who can bring different experiences, perspectives and ideas, whether you’ve worked in frontline public services, local government, a mayoral strategic authority, the Civil Service, consultancy or the voluntary sector.

What matters is your ability to get to grips with complex issues, make sense of evidence, think creatively, build relationships and turn ideas into action. Those skills are reflected across the three roles, alongside policy development, project delivery and effective communication.

Above all, you’ll care about our amazing city, its people and its future.

If you’re curious, collaborative and excited by the opportunity to turn complex problems into practical change, we’d love to hear from you.

For an informal chat, please contract Laurie Brennan (Head of Policy & Partnerships) on [e-mail] including your contact number.

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

• Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement.
• We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Find out more on our Sheff news page.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.