Principal: Corporate Planning and Performance

Principal:
Corporate Planning and Performance

Final date to receive applications: 9 August 2026

Department: Insight

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Assistant Director Data, Planning and Performance (Andy Leverton)

Compensation: £61,352 - £66,514 / year

• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent
• Salary: Grade 13 – £61,352 - £66,514
• Location: Sheffield (This is a hybrid role with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)

This is a senior leadership opportunity within SYMCA’s Insight Team, helping to shape how the organisation plans, measures, and delivers its priorities. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that strategic planning, business planning, performance reporting, and outcomes measurement support effective decision-making and the successful delivery of South Yorkshire’s ambitions.

As Principal:
Corporate Planning and Performance, you will lead the development and delivery of SYMCA’s corporate planning, business planning, performance reporting, and outcomes frameworks. You will work closely with senior leaders across the organisation to ensure that strategic priorities are translated into clear plans, measurable outcomes, and effective performance management.

You will oversee the production of high-quality performance reporting for senior leadership and governance boards, providing insight into organisational performance, delivery progress, risks, and opportunities. A key part of the role will be leading the development of SYMCA’s outcomes framework and ensuring robust reporting against Integrated Settlement requirements.

Working across directorates, you will help align strategy, finance, workforce planning, and performance management to ensure resources are focused on organisational priorities. You will also lead the ongoing development of performance measures, reporting frameworks, and planning processes, ensuring they remain effective, evidence-based, and aligned to long-term objectives.

The role includes leading a team of analysts and specialists, building capability across the organisation, and supporting the continuous development of SYMCA’s insight and performance function.

You are an experienced leader with a strong background in corporate planning, performance management, strategy, or analytical functions within a complex organisation. You are comfortable working at a strategic level and have a proven ability to develop planning and performance frameworks that support effective decision-making.

You have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into clear, meaningful insight for senior stakeholders. You are an excellent communicator, able to present information and recommendations confidently to executive leaders, boards, and partners.

You are experienced in leading and developing teams, creating a collaborative and high-performing culture focused on delivery and continuous improvement. You are skilled at building relationships across organisations, influencing stakeholders, and working collaboratively to deliver outcomes in a fast-paced environment.

You are strategic, proactive, and outcome-focused, with a passion for using evidence and insight to drive organisational performance and support positive outcomes for the people and communities of South Yorkshire.

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…