Make a Difference to the Future of SEND in Sheffield

Sheffield is embarking on an ambitious programme of SEND Transformation, driven by the national SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan and our commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Project Manager to lead and coordinate key elements of this transformation programme. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping how services work together to deliver earlier intervention, improved inclusion, and better experiences for children, young people and families across the city.

Working across education, health, social care and the voluntary sector, you will support the implementation of SEND Reform priorities, helping to develop sustainable systems, strengthen partnership working and ensure that change is delivered effectively and positively.

About the Role

As Project Manager, you will lead complex, cross-organisational projects that support the delivery of Sheffield's SEND Transformation Programme.

You will work closely with senior leaders, service managers, schools, health partners, parent carers and young people to coordinate activity, monitor progress and ensure that projects are delivered on time, within scope and achieve meaningful impact.

A key focus of the role will be supporting the development and implementation of reforms aligned to the national SEND agenda, including:

Development and implementation of Sheffield's Graduated Approach
Early identification and intervention pathways
Inclusive practice across education settings
Partnership working across education, health and care services
Service redesign and transformation activity
Monitoring impact and outcomes of reform initiatives
Stakeholder engagement and co-production with families and young people
Supporting governance, reporting and programme oversight arrangements

You will be responsible for managing multiple workstreams, identifying and mitigating risks, coordinating resources and ensuring strong communication across a diverse range of stakeholders.

About You

We are looking for someone who combines excellent project management skills with a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.

You will have:

A proven track record of successfully delivering complex projects and transformation programmes
Experience of leading change across organisational boundaries
Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
Experience of working within education, SEND, health, local government or related public services
Excellent communication, presentation and influencing skills
The ability to analyse complex information and translate it into practical solutions
Experience of programme governance, reporting and risk management
An understanding of the national SEND Reform agenda and the challenges facing local SEND systems
A commitment to co-production and working collaboratively with families and partners

Project management qualifications (PRINCE2, MSP, Agile or equivalent) are desirable.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the city's most important improvement programmes. You will join a dedicated team committed to creating a more inclusive system where children and young people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Our Sheffield Ambition

At Sheffield City Council, we are committed to creating a city where everyone can thrive. Through our SEND Transformation Programme, we are working collaboratively with children, young people, families, schools, health partners and communities to build a more inclusive Sheffield.

This role directly supports the delivery of Sheffield's strategic ambitions by helping to:

Improve outcomes and life chances for children and young people
Reduce inequalities and ensure equitable access to support
Strengthen inclusion within education settings and local communities
Deliver services through partnership, co-production and collaboration
Create a sense of belonging, where every child, young person and family feels valued, heard and supported
Support Sheffield's vision of a fairer, healthier and more inclusive city

If you are passionate about system change, inclusion and making a lasting difference for children and young people, we would love to hear from you.

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.