JOB SUMMARY

The Creative Industries team in DCMS is a friendly, dynamic team of around 30 people working on a fast-paced, high profile and hugely interesting policy agenda.
Our team works closely with industry to drive growth, building talent, and ensuring the creative industries continue to benefit individuals, communities, the environment and the UK.
Creative industry sectors we support include: video games and esports, film and high-end TV, music, publishing, fashion and design. We also develop policy related to cross-cutting areas including innovation, R&D, investment, skills, trade and international activity.
We work with sectors, experts and analysts to develop policy, with partners across government to promote the value of our sectors and encourage their growth, and deliver projects and programmes either directly with our sectors, or through and with our Public Bodies. We pride ourselves on our inclusive and respectful team environment, with ample opportunities to get involved in corporate work such as our social committee or staff networks.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are recruiting for a highly interesting and stretching role as Head of Video Games and Esports. The team works across fast-growing, innovative sectors, developing policies on important issues relating to the growth and competitiveness of the UK industry, and on the impact of games on society. The role will allow the successful candidate to develop different policy skills, advise officials and Ministers across the organisation, and undertake wide-ranging internal and external stakeholder engagement within the creative industries.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Strategic thinking and policy skills: Thinking from first principles, informed by quantitative and qualitative analysis, political, social and economic considerations to develop clear-sighted, solution-focused policy.
• Leadership of a team and an area of work: Demonstrating adaptability and resilience and being able to set direction and support the team through ambiguity and in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication skills: Advising and influencing (often senior) stakeholders such as ministers, businesses, and the public, via clear and succinct written and verbal communications.
• Planning and delivery skills: Proactively shaping the team’s work programme, taking ownership of work areas and delivering high-quality, value-for-money outputs over a sustained period of time.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Experience or understanding of the video games and esports sectors.

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted by Susanna Lazarus (vacancy holder), and will take place on:

• 1-1:30pm, Thursday 5th June

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 by Wednesday, 4th June by 3pm 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

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE WILL INCLUDE

• Supporting growth of the video games and esports sectors, including implementation of measures in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, due to be published shortly.
• Developing expert knowledge of video games and esports and playing a leadership role with relevant organisations and companies operating in the UK and internationally.
• Shaping, enacting and responding to Ministerial priorities of the day.
• Line management of two direct reports, and close working with other DCMS teams (for example, on film and music).

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents which will 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 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 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