Sheffield City Council is on an exciting digital transformation journey, transforming how we deliver services through innovative digital solutions, automation and emerging technologies. As we continue to modernise and improve services for our residents, this is an excellent opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future of digital public services.

The role

The postholder will provide technical and operational leadership to the Automation and AI Team, delivering solutions that improve business processes, reduce manual activity, enhance customer and employee experiences, and support the Council's wider digital transformation ambitions. The team is responsible for developing and maintaining automation, digital services and AI-enabled solutions using Microsoft Power Platform technologies, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Agents, Copilot Studio, Dataverse and associated Microsoft 365 integrations. The role leads the identification, assessment and delivery of automation and AI opportunities, including proof of concepts, pilot activities and business readiness assessments, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, sustainable and aligned to organisational priorities. Working collaboratively with technical colleagues, suppliers and business stakeholders, the postholder provides strategic direction, specialist advice and operational oversight to support the successful delivery, governance and adoption of automation and AI capabilities across the Council.

Key Responsibilities

Leads the strategic planning, prioritisation and delivery of automation and agentic initiatives, ensuring resources are effectively allocated across projects, support activities and continuous improvement programmes
Design, develop, support and improve Power Platform solutions, automated workflows, digital services and AI-enabled service.
Provides expert advice on automation technologies, systems integration, governance and service improvement.
The role ensures that solutions are reliable, scalable, accessible and aligned with security, infrastructure, information governance and technical design requirements.
Develops productive relationships with service areas, suppliers and stakeholders to identify automation opportunities
Drive digital transformation and maximise the value and benefits realised from automation investments
Coordinates the delivery of solutions through developers, technical specialists and suppliers, managing work pipelines, priorities, risks, dependencies and benefits
Ensure projects are delivered in accordance with agreed standards, governance requirements and organisational priorities.
Ensure all initiatives comply with governance frameworks, information governance requirements, security standards, accessibility obligations and Responsible AI principles, preparing documentation and supporting progression through appropriate approval and assurance processes

Skills and knowledge we are looking for

Strong leadership and people management skills, including coaching, mentoring, performance development and building a high-performing technical team.
Ability to develop and communicate a clear vision for automation, low-code and AI services aligned to organisational priorities.
Strong understanding of Power Platform, Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse and Copilot Studio to provide effective technical oversight and decision-making.
Experience establishing and enforcing governance, standards, security controls and best practice across Power Platform and AI solutions.
Ability to manage demand, prioritisation and resource planning, balancing business need, risk, capacity and strategic value.
Strong stakeholder management skills, building relationships with senior leaders, service areas, suppliers and technical teams.
Experience delivering complex digital, automation and AI projects, ensuring solutions are delivered on time, within budget and meet business outcomes.
Strong understanding of information governance, GDPR, accessibility, cyber security and responsible AI principles.
Ability to identify opportunities for service transformation through automation, AI and low-code technologies, translating business challenges into digital solutions.
Experience managing operational support, service performance, risk, supplier relationships and continuous improvement for business-critical solutions

For further discussion about this opportunity, please e-mail Avril Grant or Alice Johnson to arrange an informal discussion: Avril.Grant@sheffield.gov.uk or Alice.Johnson@sheffield.gov.uk

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.