Head of Brand Engagement

Head of Brand Engagement

Final date to receive applications: 31 August 2026

Department: Change and Citizen Experience

Employment Type: Fixed Term
- Full Time

Location: Sheffield Head Office

Reporting To: Mark Mobbs, Assistant Director South Yorkshire Narrative and Place Brand

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

• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Contract: Fixed Term
  - Up to end April 2028
• 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 an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in embedding South Yorkshire’s new place brand and narrative across the region. Working with partners, communities, businesses and public sector organisations, you will help build a shared sense of identity and pride, ensuring the South Yorkshire story is consistently understood, reflected and championed.

We are looking for an experienced engagement, communications, branding or marketing professional with a strong track record of building partnerships and delivering high-profile initiatives. Passionate about place, identity and storytelling, you will understand the importance of bringing people and organisations together behind a shared vision and creating a narrative that resonates across diverse audiences.

You will be a collaborative and influential leader, confident building relationships with stakeholders at all levels, from community groups and businesses to senior leaders and public sector partners. Highly organised and experienced in delivering campaigns, events and engagement programmes, you will thrive in a complex environment, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining a focus on outcomes.

This role offers the opportunity to shape how South Yorkshire is represented and experienced, ensuring the region's narrative remains authentic, impactful and aligned with its ambitions for growth, investment, visitor attraction and civic pride.

Interviews for this role are expected to take place between 15 - 18 September.

As Head of Engagement, South Yorkshire Narrative, you will lead the engagement and partnership activity required to embed the region's place brand and narrative throughout South Yorkshire.

You will establish and manage the governance, communications and engagement structures that support the successful delivery of the narrative and ensure stakeholders across the region are equipped to champion it in their own work.

Working closely with partners, you will develop and deliver campaigns, events, conferences and engagement activity that strengthen understanding and adoption of the South Yorkshire story. You will also play a key role in the launch and ongoing implementation of the place brand, helping to ensure consistency, quality and momentum across all activity.

Key responsibilities include:

• Building strong relationships with local authorities, businesses, cultural organisations, education providers and communities
• Developing stakeholder communications channels and engagement mechanisms
• Delivering campaigns, events and initiatives that support and promote the South Yorkshire narrative
• Managing governance arrangements and stakeholder groups
• Ensuring the narrative is embedded across SYMCA communications, campaigns and services
• Monitoring impact and using feedback and data to continuously improve activity
• Acting as an ambassador for the South Yorkshire brand at regional and national events

You have experience leading engagement, communications, branding or marketing activity and are comfortable working across organisational boundaries to build consensus and drive action. You are an excellent communicator with strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence and inspire a wide range of audiences.

You are strategic, creative and results‑focused, able to use insight and evidence to evaluate impact and continuously improve approaches. You are confident operating in politically sensitive environments and can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery.

You are passionate about creating positive change through collaboration and storytelling, with a commitment to ensuring the South Yorkshire…