Head of Creative Industries Sector Development

Head of Creative Industries Sector Development

Application Deadline: 27 September 2026

Department: Growth, Business and Skills

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Compensation: £55,949 - £59,907 / year

Description

• Hours: 37 hours per week (full time)
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 12 - £55,949 to £59,907
• Location: Sheffield (Hybrid Working)

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future direction of one of the region's most vibrant and fast-evolving sectors. Working with businesses, universities, investors, cultural organisations and government partners, you will play a leading role in developing opportunities that drive investment, unlock innovation and support sustainable growth across South Yorkshire's Creative Industries ecosystem. Lead the development of the Creative Industries Sector in South Yorkshire by providing strategic leadership for policy and investment, collaborating with partners, driving investment, and enabling innovation to deliver growth, high-value job creation and opportunities for communities. The postholder is SYMCA's principal specialist for Creative Industries, line manages the Senior Project Manager for the sector, and reports to the Assistant Director - Sector Development.

Interviews will be held: Monday 26th October 2026

About the role

As SYMCA's lead specialist for Creative Industries, you will provide strategic leadership to support the growth and development of the sector across South Yorkshire. You'll bring together partners, identify emerging opportunities and help shape the policies, programmes and investments that will enable businesses to thrive. Acting as both a sector champion and trusted advisor, you'll work with a diverse range of stakeholders to build a stronger, more connected and more ambitious Creative Industries sector that delivers lasting economic impact.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the development and delivery of a long-term vision and growth strategy for South Yorkshire's Creative Industries sector.
• Build strong partnerships with creative businesses, universities, cultural organisations, investors and public sector stakeholders.
• Identify and secure opportunities for investment, funding and collaboration that support sector growth.
• Champion South Yorkshire's creative strengths and represent the region at high-profile events, forums and stakeholder groups.
• Support innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth by creating connections between industry, academia and investors.
• Lead and oversee projects and programmes that deliver tangible benefits for creative businesses and communities across the region.

About you

You will be a strategic and collaborative leader with a passion for unlocking the potential of the Creative Industries. You'll enjoy bringing people together around a shared vision, identifying opportunities for growth and developing partnerships that deliver meaningful outcomes. Comfortable operating at a senior level, you'll be equally confident shaping strategy, influencing stakeholders and driving delivery.

Whether your experience comes from the creative sector itself, economic development, investment, innovation or a related field, you'll understand the factors that help creative businesses and places succeed. You'll be energized by the opportunity to help shape the future of a sector that contributes so much to South Yorkshire's economy, culture and identity.

We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant experience of developing and delivering sector growth strategies, economic development initiatives or partnership programmes.
• Strong knowledge of the Creative Industries landscape and the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.
• A proven ability to build productive relationships across business, academia, government and investment communities.
• Experience of securing funding, attracting investment or developing compelling business and growth propositions.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage and advise senior stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and programme management skills, with a track record of turning ambition into successful delivery.

If you're passionate about helping South Yorkshire's Creative Industries flourish and want to play a key role in shaping the region's future growth, we'd love to hear from you.

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.

If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please contact or include within your application form detailing the adjustment and how it will assist in managing any barriers.