Policy and Project Manager, EURO 2028

Job summary

The Major Sporting Projects Delivery Directorate is a directorate within DCMS’ Strategy, Sport and Events Group, which oversees the Government’s input to some of the highest profile programmes in the world of sport. Amongst the projects and programmes covered by the team are:

• The UEFA European Championships 2028 - ensuring the Government delivers on its commitments to ensure that this major event is staged successfully, maximising economic growth and benefiting local communities. This programme is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
• The future pipeline of major sporting events - driving forward the Government's work, with partners, to secure, and successfully host, the world’s biggest and best sporting events.
• Grassroots facilities delivery - overseeing the delivery of hundreds of millions into multi-sport grassroots facilities across the UK, as part of the EURO 2028 impact programme and to tackle inactivity, support health & wellbeing and build cohesive communities through providing access to high quality shared sporting spaces.

The directorate evolved out of a unit within the existing Sport and Gambling Directorate, with which it continues to work seamlessly.

The team prioritises a positive workplace culture, where colleagues are committed to excellence in delivery, ongoing personal development, a supportive working environment, and operating seamlessly with colleagues and stakeholders based across the UK, and beyond.

Job description

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work on the planning for UK and Ireland hosting the men’s UEFA European Championships in 2028, which will be the largest sporting event that the UK and Ireland have ever jointly hosted. The post holder will manage critical stakeholder relationships to drive forward the planning and delivery of key tournament workstreams.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with key delivery partners both internal and external to government, including UK&I 2028 Ltd (the private company established to coordinate domestic partners' hosting responsibilities), acting as a key interface to facilitate successful delivery and supporting partners to deliver
• Manage policy development and engagement on key issues, driving forward problem-solving to reach effective, collaborative solutions
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, risk registers, and milestone tracking tools, creating clear frameworks to enable delivery at pace
• Lead cross-government working groups to drive delivery, ensuring strategic direction is aligned, with structured reporting, timely documentation, and clear tracking of action items
• Monitor DCMS funding allocations to operational partners across workstreams, ensuring resources are distributed effectively
• Take a flexible approach to working across the team including leading / supporting other priority policy and event delivery projects across the programme as needed (potentially including areas such as delivery of legislation, C3, testing and readiness)
• Contribute to creating an inclusive, high-performing, and supportive team environment within the Directorate.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that the desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates.

Essential requirements:

• Proven experience working on major delivery programmes, managing complex projects in fast-moving environments
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills to manage multiple stakeholders and government departments
• Track record of using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to drive forward policy and programme delivery initiatives.
• Experience in designing, supporting, or running governance frameworks and managing project risk/issue registers across multiple workstreams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience drafting high-quality briefs, reports, and governance documentation
• Knowledge of programme and project management techniques and experience of delivering results using these methodologies

Desirable skills:

• Formal Project Management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile, or Managing Successful Programmes).
• Experience of working on a major event
• Experience of working in a transport and / or security related policy area

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Elinor Clapson, and will take place on: Wednesday 2nd September at 1pm

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 Registration form and you will be sent an invitation. Invites will only be sent after this deadline has passed.

Please note that the session will not be recorded and will not focus on the DCMS recruitment process - please direct any queries that you have on this topic (timelines, reasonable adjustments, onboarding etc) to resourcing.team@dcms.gov.uk

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,065, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes

£12,475 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re 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 employer contribution of 28.97%
• 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.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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 vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will be assessed against the experience success profile :

• 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 2 x A4 pages and you should insert your CV into the "Job History" section on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 500 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 however these will not be considered in the assessment of your application except in circumstances where there are a high number and calibre of candidates.

For the shortlist, we will 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 .

The behaviours to be tested at interview are:

• Making effective decisions
• Delivering at pace
• Working together
• Seeing the big picture

Prior to the interview you will be sent the behaviour questions in advance.

Your interview will take place remotely via Teams.

For indicative sift and interview dates please refer to the attached Candidate Information Pack.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to 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

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 ‘Candidate Information Pack’ attached.

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

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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 applicant’s 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.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout