Voluntary, Community, Faith & Social Enterprise Sector Lead (VCSE)

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority; Sheffield; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Hybrid working

Flexible hours

Holiday entitlement 28–36 days

Annual leave purchase scheme

Active travel facilities

Reward Gateway discounts

Cycle-to-Work

Training on the job

Professional membership fees

Job summary

South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) invites an experienced VCSE Sector Lead to join the Strategic Partnerships team in Sheffield. This role shapes how SYMCA collaborates with VCSE organisations, local authorities, health partners and business to set a shared agenda and influence policy and services.

Reporting to the Principal Officer, you will lead engagement, build cross-sector partnerships and help secure resources aligned to shared priorities.

Qualifications

• Significant experience with the VCSE and wider public sectors in South Yorkshire.
• Strategic level experience influencing senior leaders across organisations and sectors.
• Strong understanding of local VCSE-led and multi-sector partnerships and strategic funding landscapes.
• Experience building partnerships across sectors and bringing people together around shared solutions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including turning community insight into practical recommendations.
• Strong organisational skills and the confidence to work independently.
• Commitment to improving health, wellbeing and social outcomes for residents.

Responsibilities

• Shape SYMCA's strategy for working with the VCSE sector, aligned with partners' priorities.
• Lead engagement and partnership activity between SYMCA and VCSE organisations, acting as the sector's central point of contact.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, health partners (including the NHS and public health), businesses and anchor institutions, bringing partners together to agree collective action.
• Support organisations to leverage resources aligned to shared priorities.
• Highlight VCSE matters to SYMCA leaders, ensuring community insight and lived experience inform SYMCA policy and services.
• Monitor the impact of engagement, in line with the South Yorkshire Strategy and SYMCA's approach to community engagement.

Skills

VCSE engagement

Strategic partnerships

Relationship management

Communication skills

Influencing

Independent work

Job description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Fixed Term (24 months)
• Salary: Grade 10 - £47,181 - £50,269
• Location: Sheffield (hybrid working)

We are looking for an experienced and well-connected Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Lead to join our Strategic Partnerships team.

This is a unique opportunity to shape how South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) works with the VCSE sector, alongside local authorities, health, business and other partners.

Applications must be accompanied by a cover letter to detail how you meet the criteria as detailed within the role profile. (please see role profile attached). Please note, all applications should be made directly via our careers portal.

We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking to work part time (4 days a week or more) or as part of a job share.

About The Role

Reporting to the Principal Officer - Strategic Partnerships, this strategic role brings together SYMCA, the VCSE sector and public sector partners to align priorities and help set a shared agenda for South Yorkshire, with the right voices around the table so that the right issues reach the agenda and shape policy, programmes and services.

South Yorkshire's VCSE sector is wide-ranging, from grassroots community groups and faith organisations to social enterprises, community businesses and larger charities, working on everything from children, young people and families to skills, employment, community safety, health and the local economy. This role spans the whole sector.

In This Role, You Will

• Help shape SYMCA's strategy for working with the VCSE sector, aligned with partners' priorities
• Lead engagement and partnership activity between SYMCA and VCSE organisations, acting as the sector's central point of contact
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, health partners (including the NHS and public health), businesses and anchor institutions, bringing partners together to agree collective action
• Support organisations to leverage resources aligned to shared priorities
• Highlight VCSE matters to SYMCA leaders, ensuring community insight and lived experience inform SYMCA policy and services
• Monitor the impact of engagement, in line with the South Yorkshire Strategy and SYMCA's approach to community engagement

About You

You will bring:

• Significant experience of working with the VCSE and wider public sectors in South Yorkshire, including local government and health
• Experience of working at a strategic level, influencing senior leaders across organisations and sectors
• A strong understanding of local VCSE-led and multi-sector partnerships and strategic funding landscapes
• Experience of building partnerships across sectors and bringing people together around shared solutions
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including turning community insight into practical recommendations
• Strong organisational skills and the confidence to work independently
• A commitment to improving health, wellbeing and social outcomes for residents

You will be relationship-focused and passionate about helping the VCSE sector play a central role in shaping South Yorkshire's future.

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 our 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. 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 [e-mail] or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.