Stakeholder Engagement

Commemoration Stakeholder Engagement & Programme Lead

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is recruiting a Commemoration Stakeholder Engagement & Programme Lead to join its Project Delivery and Major Events Directorate.

This Grade 7 role is based in Manchester and offers a salary of £56,582 to £63,384. The position is offered on a 1-year fixed-term, loan or secondment basis, with flexible working, full-time and job-share options available.

Visa sponsorship: The advert does not state that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship is available. Applicants should therefore not assume that sponsorship will be provided. The vacancy is broadly open to candidates who already have the required right to work in the UK under the Civil Service nationality rules.

Closing date: 22 October 2026 at 11:55pm
Reference: 484309
Location: Manchester
Grade: Grade 7
Department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Number of vacancies: 1

About the role

The successful candidate will join the COVID-19 Commemoration Team, which is responsible for a national and community-level programme honouring those who lost their lives during the pandemic and recognising the sacrifices and acts of service made across the UK.

The programme includes supporting the annual UK-wide COVID-19 Day of Reflection, a fellowship scheme focused on natural hazards and national resilience, preservation of the National Covid Memorial Wall, community memorial projects and the development of a COVID-19 commemoration website featuring oral histories.

The Stakeholder Engagement & Programme Lead will work with national bereaved family groups and a range of organisations across the voluntary, youth, bereavement and health sectors.

Key responsibilities

The role will involve:

• Creating and leading an overarching stakeholder engagement plan for the COVID-19 Commemoration Programme.
• Developing and overseeing an effective programme management approach.
• Providing leadership on finance plans and overseeing the programme budget.
• Coordinating business planning across the COVID-19 Commemoration Team.
• Leading the team’s information, correspondence and parliamentary requirements.
• Overseeing the COVID-19 commemoration website.
• Supporting stakeholder engagement and short-term projects relating to the National Covid Memorial Wall.
• Identifying and delivering cross-programme projects, including evaluation and public sector equality duty work.
• Task-managing SEO and HEO staff.

Essential requirements

Applicants should have:

• Experience designing, implementing and overseeing robust programme management frameworks and business planning processes for major initiatives.
• Strong financial management experience, including public sector budgets, grant arrangements and team requisitioning.
• Experience developing and maintaining collaborative relationships with government, external delivery partners and sensitive interest groups.
• The ability to lead, motivate and task-manage team members while delegating effectively and creating an inclusive working environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience with parliamentary requirements, official correspondence and public-facing digital platforms.

Behaviours assessed

The selection process will assess candidates against:

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Salary and benefits

The salary is £56,582 to £63,384, alongside a Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.

Other benefits include:

• Flexible and hybrid working.
• 26.5 days’ annual leave on entry, increasing to 31.5 days after five years’ service.
• Three days of paid volunteering leave.
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave provisions.
• Staff reward and recognition schemes.
• Occupational sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Staff networks and wellbeing support.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

Application and selection process

Applications are being assessed under the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.

Candidates must submit:

• A CV of no more than two A4 pages, covering relevant career history, responsibilities and achievements.
• A Statement of Suitability of up to 750 words, explaining how their skills, qualities and experience meet the essential requirements.

If there is a high volume of applications, an initial sift may be carried out using the Statement of Suitability.

Interviews will generally be held remotely via Google Meet, although applicants should check the Candidate Information Pack for the confirmed approach.

An information session for prospective applicants is also being offered:

• Tuesday 13 October 2026: 1:45pm–2:45pm
• Thursday 15 October 2026: 10:15am–11:00am

Applicants interested in attending must register before 1pm on Monday 12 October 2026.

Application deadline

Applications must be submitted by 11:55pm on Thursday 22 October 2026.

Reference: 484309

How to apply

Applications should be submitted through the official Civil Service Jobs vacancy.

Source: Civil Service Jobs / Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)