This is an exciting opportunity to join the Project Delivery and Major Events Directorate.

The Directorate brings together three core functions: Project Delivery, Major and Commemorative Events, and Incident Response. We provide assurance and support for major projects, programmes, and policy initiatives and lead the delivery of specific major projects and events This role sits within the COVID-19 Commemoration team.

The COVID-19 Commemorative programme honours the lives lost and pays tribute to the sacrifices made by so many during the pandemic and is delivered at a national and community level. The programme reflects on the extraordinary acts of service, courage and kindness demonstrated right across the UK during this difficult time.

The COVID-19 Commemorative programme:

• Supports the UK-wide COVID-19 Day of Reflection taking place in March every year as a moment to come together to remember the lives lost and the sacrifices made
• Has launched a new UK-wide fellowship scheme on natural hazards to support future national resilience
• Supports the long term preservation of the National Covid Memorial Wall
• Maps existing community COVID-19 memorials, working with NHS Charities Together and Forestry England to create 10 new reflective spaces
• Publishes a COVID-19 commemoration website including a repository of new oral histories, including a new collection in development by the British Library.

The programme was announced last November and further details can be found here.

As a team we work extensively with a number of stakeholders including national bereaved family groups and we have established a COVID-19 Stakeholder Advisory Group which includes national organisations from the voluntary, youth, bereavement and health sector.

The COVID-19 Commemoration Team is currently recruiting two Grade 7 roles: this role, National and Community Delivery Lead; and a second role, Stakeholder & Programme Lead.

The COVID-19 Commemoration National and Community Delivery Lead will:

• Deliver a nationwide programme of commemorative activity to mark the 2027 Day of Reflection on 14 March next year.
• Plan the longer term strategy and policy for the Day of Reflection in future years, including the ten year anniversary in 2030.
• Plan and lead the stakeholder engagement for the Day of Reflection, scoping and presenting the opportunity to key sectors and partners, including bereaved family groups.
• Oversee and support the delivery of the Day of Reflection Grants Programme.
• In partnership with the DCMS Digi-Comms Team, manage the outputs and outcomes of a Digi-Comms specialist, embedded within the team; and provide oversight of DCMSs digital assets for Day of Reflection.
• Oversee the delivery of new commemorative spaces through partnership with NHS Charities Together and Forestry England.
• Develop and maintain budget oversight for the above workstrands.

Includes task management of SEO and HEO staff.

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

Essential requirements:

• An understanding of delivering national programmes or engagement through partnership with a wide range of organisations.
• A persuasive communicator, with strong written and verbal communication skills, able to present commemorative activity with belief, commitment and passion to a wide range of audiences, with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills;
• Ability to work with and across multiple teams within DCMS, other Government Departments, arms length bodies and with a wide range of other stakeholders, including bereaved family groups, public, private and voluntary and charitable sector organisations;
• A self-starter, able to build a vision for delivery and take responsibility for outcomes, and comfortable working to deadlines, at pace;
• Adaptable and willing to be flexible, across a small team, to provide support where its needed.

Desirable Skills:

Practical experience in grant administration complying with public financial regulations.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Nick Cady, the vacancy holder, and two dates are offered:

• Tuesday 13 October, 11am - 12 noon
• Thursday 15 October, 2pm - 3pm

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, before 1pm on Monday 12 October 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

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together