Director, Sport and Gambling

Job summary

We are running an information session where prospective applicants can find out more about the role. This will be hosted virtually by Ben Dean, Director Sport and Gambling and will take place on:

-Friday 20th February, at 9:45

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 you may have about the application, and the interview and assessment process.

Please register your interest by filling out this form and you will be sent an invitation.

This will take place virtually, via Google Meets.

Please note that the session will not be recorded.

Job description

As Director Sport & Gambling within DCMS, you will support an agenda at the heart of the nation. From the grassroots pitches that support public health to the global stage of elite performance and the complexity of the gambling industry balancing commercial interests, consumer choice and protection from harms.

This high profile, fast paced role has a number of key areas of focus:

● Grassroots sport - driving a systemic shift in national health and activity levels, including through the the DCMS Facilities Fund and working with Sport England, sport bodies and other departments.
● Elite Sport - supporting a thriving and growing elite sport sector, including supporting our Olympic and Paralympic sports through UK Sport, and working with sport National Governing Bodies and key partners to drive financial stability, growth, governance, sports safety, and anti-doping.
● Football Regulation - following the legal establishment of the Independent Football Regulator, you will support its transition to becoming fully operational, securing the long-term integrity and sustainability of the English game.
● Gambling - navigating the complexities and regulatory landscape of the gambling sector and maintaining the right balance between allowing people to gamble and protecting those vulnerable from gambling harms.
● National Lottery - overseeing work on the implementation of the 4th National Lottery licence and wider lottery work, ensuring the multi-billion pound success and social impact of the National Lottery

About the Team

As Director, you will lead a high-performing, multi-disciplinary directorate of approximately 80 professionals dedicated to delivering impact across the sport and gambling landscapes. The team is a vibrant mix of subject matter experts, specialist analysts, and policy generalists who thrive in a fast-paced environment.

The directorate is structured across three Deputy Director portfolios, fostering a resilient, outcomes-focused, and unified culture. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace that champions diversity and empowers every team member to contribute to our national mission.

While we operate as a cohesive national unit, our geographic footprint is evolving. We are actively growing our Manchester hub, which currently hosts approximately 30% of the directorate, alongside our London headquarters (60%) and other regional offices across England (10%).

A defining feature of this role is the senior sponsorship and strategic oversight of seven prominent Arms Length Bodies (ALBs). You will work closely with these partners to ensure robust governance and strategic alignment across the sector:

• The Independent Football Regulator
• UK Sport
• Sport England
• The Gambling Commission
• Sports Ground Safety Authority
• UK Anti-Doping
• Horserace Betting Levy Board

For further information about the role please see the attached candidate pack.

Person specification

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

• Leadership: track record of outstanding leadership with the ability to guide and inspire high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams
  while fostering a resilient, outcomes-focused, and unified culture. Demonstrable commitment to inclusive leadership, with the capability to champion diversity and empower your team.
• Seeing the Big Picture: demonstrable success in aligning complex organisational strategies with broader national or sectoral objectives. Evidence of navigating intricate stakeholder landscapes, successfully balancing commercial vitality with social responsibility and public protection within a fast-paced and sensitive socio-political context.
• Working Together: expert capability in building long-term networks with senior stakeholders and partner organisations. You will use sophisticated soft power and diplomatic influence to resolve high-stakes disagreements and maintain strategic momentum among parties with deeply competing interests.
• Making Effective Decisions: significant experience in providing concise, strategically sound, and evidence-based advice to Board-level executives, political leaders, or equivalent senior decision-makers. You must demonstrate shrewd political judgement, with the ability to anticipate how decisions will land within the wider political sphere of influence and across high-risk, sensitive issues.
• Communicating and influencing: excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory, commercial, or ethical landscapes into clear, compelling narratives. You will be a sophisticated advocate, articulating a vision and building consensus to drive change and win hearts and minds without relying on formal mandate.

Desirable Skills

• Knowledge of the sport and/or gambling policy landscape, including an understanding of the regulatory requirements of the National Lottery or elite sport governance
  
  

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £100,000, Department for Culture, Media and Sport contributes £28,970 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

DCMS values its staff and offers a wide range of benefits to everyone who works here. We’re committed to developing talent, and supporting colleagues to have great careers in our department. To support with that, some of the benefits we offer include:

• Flexible working arrangements and hybrid working - DCMS staff work on a flexible basis with time spent in offices, and time spent working from home

• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

• Access to the Edenred employee benefits system which offers discounts to popular retailers and access to various useful resources such as financial and savings advice

• 3 days of paid volunteering leave

• Up to 9 months maternity leave on full pay + generous paternity and adoption leave

• Staff reward and recognition bonuses that operate throughout the year

• Occupational sick pay

• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme which offers staff 24/7 confidential support and resources such as counselling, debt guidance and management advice

• Active and engaged staff networks to join including the LGBT+, Ethnic Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing and Gender Equality Networks

• Exceptional learning and development opportunities that you can explore alongside your day to day work

• Season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and much more!

Terms and conditions at SCS grades will vary. Those applying for SCS roles should refer to the candidate information pack for more information on terms and conditions.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to apply

To apply for this vacancy, you will need to submit the following documents online via Civil Service Jobs which will assessed against the essential requirements for the role:

• An online 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 Civil Service Jobs on the Civil Service Jobs application form.
• A Statement of Suitability (max 1000 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.

For the shortlist, we will select applicants who demonstrate the best fit for the role by considering the evidence provided in your application and how this meets the essential requirements.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on the statement of suitability. Those who are successful in the initial sift will then be scored on all elements of the application.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Shortlist

The panel will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘essential requirements’ section of this pack. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

Meeting with Permanent Secretary

Before the interview stage, shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend an informal meeting with our Permanent Secretary, Susannah Storey.

Meeting with Director General, Strategy, Sport and Events

If you are shortlisted, you will also be offered an informal conversation with Emma Ward, ahead of the final panel interview. This does not form part of the assessment process and is merely an opportunity for you to find out more about the role.

Feedback

Please note you will only receive feedback if you complete the interview stage. Following interview, all shortlisted candidates will receive their outcome along with some short written feedback on performance at interview.

Assessment

If shortlisted, you will be invited to undertake an assessment as part of this recruitment prior to a final interview panel:

• A staff engagement exercise: a structured exercise which involves shortlisted candidates facilitating a discussion with a selection of staff from the Department on a given topic.

This exercise will take place remotely via Google Meet. This will not result in a “pass” or “fail” decision. It is designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Interview

The interview process will assess behaviours andexperience and will include a presentation.

The behaviours tested during the interview are listed in the essential requirements.

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation. The topic will be sent in advance of your interview. You will not be required to use visual aids.

Your interview will take place, in person, at DCMS’ London office: 100 Parliament Street.

Indicative Timeline

Advert Closing date: Sunday 8th March

Shortlisting: WC 23rd March

Pre interview Assessments: WC 30th March

Interviews: WC 20th April

Feedback: WC 27th April

Security Clearance

You must hold, or be willing to obtain SC level. Information on eligibility for security vetting can be found here.

Other Information

We offer reasonable adjustments at application and interview to enable all candidates to perform at their best.

To discuss a reasonable adjustment request you can contact scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

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 security check (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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment
• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Head of Resourcing at recruitment.team@dcms.gov.uk and scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk in the first instance.

Attachments

Director, Sport & Gambling - DCMS SCS Candidate Information Pack (4) Opens in new window (pdf, 4899kB)Deputy Director - Director, Sport & Gambling DCMS Accessibility Pack (5) Opens in new window (docx, 29kB)