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Head of Strategic Planning, Commemorative Events

  • Public sector
  • Manchester
  • 05/04/2024
  • £56,462.00 - £72,324.00 /yearly
  • Full Time & Permanent
Job expired!

Job Overview

Location

Manchester

Job Type

Full Time & Permanent

Salary

£56,462 - £72,324 yearly

Date Posted:

05/04/2024

Expiration date:

15/04/2024

Additional Detail

Job ID

4739

Job Description

Manchester, London

Job summary

This is an opportunity to work within the Commemorative Events Team in DCMS, leading on the strategic planning a delivery of a complex and high profile programme, as well as thinking about our strategic approach to Major Events more widely. 

The Commemorative Events Team is a new team sitting within the new Project Delivery and Major Events Directorate in DCMS and is responsible for planning and delivering major projects, events and commemorations. Most recently the Directorate coordinated the delivery of Their Majesties Coronation as well as parts of Her Late Majestys funeral. 

The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys leading others to deliver, demonstrates strategic thinking and  is good at managing a number of stakeholders with an ability to manage multiple competing priorities. 

This role will lead on the overall strategic planning for the delivery of a DCMS commemorative programme, as well as having responsibility for developing a more strategic approach to Major Events in DCMS. The programme involves working with a range of internal and external stakeholders, taking responsibility for funding programmes including grant funds, and working through and with community and voluntary sector bodies. 

Job description

The role will be expected to brief Ministers on a regular basis, and you should be comfortable working at pace and to tight deadlines, engaging with senior leaders across Whitehall. You will need to be able to set priorities for the wider team - including to those outside of your direct line management responsibility. You will have line management responsibility for 2 x Grade 7 staff, and will be counter signee for a further HEO, with scope for the team to grow over the coming months. Some of the key responsibilities will include:

  • Scoping out plans for future major events and commemorations to develop delivery options and models
  • Working with HMT to secure any funding required, overseeing the development of a business case and preparation for Spending Review.
  • Oversee efficient and effective governance structures to track and monitor planning progress
  • Develop plans for future commemorations
  • Oversee financial and budget management for the Programme
  • Building strong stakeholder relationships with internal and external stakeholders
  • Briefing Ministers and senior leaders on progress, risks and issues.
  • Coordinate and oversee development of a more strategic approach to Major Events in DCMS, brokering agreement to the approach with senior leaders, sector leads and Ministers

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience. 

Essential requirements:

  • Strong leadership skills with previous experience of managing a team
  • Experience of project or programme management to plan, lead and deliver a policy project or programme.
  • Ability to prioritise effectively between issues, delivering at pace through delegation and matrix management.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong attention to detail, able to condense complex information for a variety of audiences.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills and a strong track record of working with others and influencing to build consensus.
  • Familiarity with working with financial information, budgets and delivering commercial outcomes. 

Desirable skills:

  • Experience of working with Ministers, Special Advisers, No.10, and senior parts of the Civil Service.
  • Contract management experience including understanding or or experience of Business Case development.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. this will be hosted by Tessa Gilder-Smith and will take place on:

12 - 1pm Wednesday 10th April 2024

The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the role, the team and wider directorate and the department. It will also be an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation. 

Please note that the session will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to [email protected]

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Leadership
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Making Effective Decisions

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. Were committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

  • Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home
  • 26.5 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after 5 years service
  • A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
  • Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice
  • 3 days of paid volunteering leave
  • Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave
  • Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year
  • Occupational sick pay
  • Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice
  • Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks
  • Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work
  • Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this post, please send us the following documents no later than Sunday 14th April 2024 at 23:55 pm via the CS Jobs portal:

  • A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 3 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
  • A Statement of Suitability (max 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.

For the shortlist, we will assess your experience and select applicants demonstrating the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

For support in writing your application and interviewing, please refer to the Application and Interview Guidance document attached to the job advert.

The interview process will assess behaviours and strengths and potentially include a presentation which will be provided at interview.

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

  • Leadership
  • Seeing the Bigger Picture
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Making Effective Decisions

You will not be made aware of the strengths being assessed prior to your interview. 

As part of your interview, you may be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. Full details of this, including the topic, and whether or not you will need to use visual aids, will be sent to you prior to your interview.

Your interview will take place remotely via GoogleMeets.

Further Information

If the vacancy is offered as FTA/Loan, existing Civil Servants must join on a Loan basis only., Prior agreement to be released on loan must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to insert Department for Culture, Media and Sport from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk  

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

DCMS has a London and a National pay scale. For more information on this, including the circumstances in which each pay scale will apply, please see the Information for Applicants document.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected] 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Recruitment team

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact ([email protected]) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/

 
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