Director General for Strategy and Major Events

We are looking for an outstanding individual to become the new Director General for Strategy and Major Events at DCMS. This is a varied and challenging leadership role which will directly support the new Secretary of State’s agenda.
Our strategy aims to drive outcomes across the country, writing a new national story built around the areas which DCMS represents, and which mean so much to people across society. The successful candidate will be the lead strategic advisor to the Secretary of State across her whole portfolio at DCMS, shaping the strategy for our department and ensuring the department delivers against these priorities and the Government’s missions.
The DG Group includes the strategy directorate, our major events, ceremonials and portfolio management, the central oversight of our Arms Length Bodies and appointments, crisis management and resilience, governance, communications and analysis. Our Chief Scientific Adviser also reports into this post.
The role will report directly to the Permanent Secretary and will be a key member of the Executive Board, which is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Department and providing governance and oversight of all of our work. Together with our DGs for Policy, this role will be vital to delivering our agenda, engaging with local government, civil society and our sectors, and will also represent the Department across Whitehall and beyond., + A Statement of Suitability A short covering statement of no more than two A4 sized pages explaining why this appointment interests you and how you can evidence your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the ‘what are we looking for’ section;
+ An Declaration of Interest form sent separately to sarah.vale@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. A downloadable version is attached to the advert.
Civil Service recruitment processes at Director General level are regulated by the Civil Service Commission, and we follow clear guidelines to ensure that our recruitment is fair and open. We also design our recruitment processes to reflect our values-based approach to HR and to ensure that shortlisted candidates have the opportunity to meet key stakeholders for the role, before they join us. We expect the process for this role to be as follows:
+ The closing date for applications will be 23:55, Sunday 5 January 2025
+ A shortlist of the applications will take place on w/c 13th January 2025
+ From Monday 20th January 2025, shortlisted candidates will then:
+ Participate in a staff engagement panel with a selection of people from across the department
+ Undergo an Individual Leadership Assessment (ILA)
+ Meet with key stakeholders, including the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP
+ Inputs from all of those steps will then form the basis of a panel interview, chaired by Paul Kernaghan from the Civil Service Commission during the w/c 10th February 2025. Other panel members at the interview will include but may not be limited to Susannah Storey Permanent Secretary, DCMS and; Sir Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office.
Please note that references and open-source due diligence checks (including into social media accounts) may be undertaken for all short-listed candidates.
Full details about the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates and recognising that there are a number of steps in the process, we will do our best to arrange the sessions in a way that works for you. This process will be conducted in face-to-face sessions, but if you need any adjustments do let us know.
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 developed vetting (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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window)., 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 Sarah Vale in the first instance.

Alongside your salary of £135,000, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £39,109 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%