JOB SUMMARY
The Sport team within DCMS has overall policy responsibility within government for sport and physical activity. We lead on setting the government’s strategic direction for sport, and are the departmental sponsor for four Arm’s Length Bodies (UK Sport, Sport England, UK Anti-Doping and the Sport Grounds Safety Authority).
The team has a broad remit that covers elite sport through to the grassroots, and works across government to promote the effectiveness of physical activity as a policy solution to a variety of social issues. This means it is busy, but rewarding - recent work has focused on the legacy from the Lionesses winning the Euros, developing plans to build sports facilities across the country and reforming how we support the nation to get active.
We own a number of high profile and important relationships across government and with key external bodies, including with National Governing Bodies (such as the FA, RFU, ECB etc.), the Premier League, the British Olympic Association, and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The team brings together people from a range of backgrounds across the Civil Service and sporting sector. We use this expertise to focus on how we can make a difference - supporting sporting bodies to achieve their aims and ensuring that we are doing all we can to make meaningful change. We are part of the Sport & Gambling Directorate, working closely with the Major Sporting Projects Delivery Directorate.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Role 1: Head of Sport Strategy:
This is a high profile, fast moving role covering a breadth of responsibility across sport policy. You are responsible for the implementation of the range of objectives in grassroots sport, including overall ambition for getting more people to be active and make sport safer, more inclusive and more sustainable, key responsibilities include:
- Responsibility for the overall strategy on grassroots sport, including facilities, grassroots funding, ensuring a safe environment in sport and making it as inclusive as possible.
- Relationship management with key Departments including DHSC, DfE, MHCLG, DEFRA, DfT, HMT and MOJ and others to deliver a community led approach to grassroots sport following the 10 Year Health Plan.
- Leading on policy on the future of sport integrity, including shaping Government’s response to the Call for Evidence on sporting integrity and the sectors Safe Sport initiative. This will also include work on regulation of sport including safeguarding and in response to governance challenges.
- Leading to make the sport sector more inclusive, including diversity and inclusion in sport.
- Overseeing policy for the economic and environment sustainability in sport supporting the team to deliver key outcomes to grow the sector and ensure it is more sustainable.
- Oversee facilities policy to enable delivery of £400m investment in community sport facilities.
- Be outward facing with the sport sector working with key partners and stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
- Senior policy responsibility for sponsorship of Sport England and UK Anti-Doping, Departmental Arm’s Length Bodies.
- Management of four Grade 7’s, leading in respective areas of participation, children and young people and integrity, facilities and sustainability.
- Corporate leadership and active representation in Directorate Senior Leadership Team.
Role 2: Head of Elite, International and Women’s Sport
This is a high profile, fast paced and exciting role covering a breadth of responsibilities across the elite and professional sport sector. You will be responsible for the implementation of a range of objectives to support, champion and add value to the sector, key responsibilities include:
- Building on the momentum in women’s sport by supporting the growth of women’s sport through identifying barriers and solutions including via a Women’s Sport Taskforce, and ensuring the Independent Review of Women’s Football recommendations are delivered via a Women’s Football Taskforce.
- Maximising and strengthening UK international influence using sport diplomacy and soft power, with responsibility for a Cross Government, Arm’s Length Bodies and cross sport working group.
- Horizon scanning for international issues that may impact sport policy, our relationships and our sport sector.
- Supporting Olympic and Paralympic success and capitalising on inspirational performances.
- Securing cross government buy-in for the growth of the professional sport sector and identifying barriers to growth.
- Maintaining and enhancing our world leading spectator safety regime.
- Be outward facing with the sport sector working with key partners and stakeholders to deliver shared objectives.
- Senior policy responsibility for sponsorship of UK Sport and the Sports Ground Safety Authority, Departmental Arm’s Length Bodies.
- Management of 3 Grade 7’s leading in the respective areas of: Elite and professional sport; women’s sport; and international.
- Corporate leadership and active representation in Directorate Senior Leadership Team.
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Leadership - strong evidence of line management and cultural leadership across policy development.
- Delivery - strong evidence of leadership across a range of policy areas to deliver outcomes, including delivery of funding.
- Proven experience in project development, utilising data to drive and analyse policy initiatives. Experience in planning and executing announcements to ensure continuous delivery progress.
- Stakeholder management skills - experience of handling stakeholders across the Department, across Whitehall and with an external sector to demonstrate policy thinking and delivery.
- Extensive communicating and influencing skills with a proven ability to support project development.
- Understanding of sport policy and the wider sport context.
DESIRABLE SKILLS:
- Working with Ministers & Centre of Government
We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the two roles. This will be hosted by Adam Conant, and will take place on: Monday 1 September from 13:00-13:45
The session will be an opportunity to hear more about the two roles, 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 by 9am on Monday 1st September and you will be sent an invitation.
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 recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk
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)
- 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
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