Programme Manager, Illegal Markets

Job summary

The role:

As a Programme Manager at the Gambling Commission you will provide strategic leadership and direction across a defined set of interdependent projects and the associated business change activities.

You will be responsible for the successful delivery of the required outcomes, including the establishment of appropriate governance and assurance, monitoring progress, managing risks and issues and ensuring the business readiness for change.

The team:

You will play a pivotal part in the delivery of our illegal market programme of work. This is high profile work and will be subject to a high level of public scrutiny and as such we are looking for an experienced Programme Manager who has strong stakeholder management and leadership skills, with an ability to bring together multiple strands of work to ensure the programme delivers on time, the desired benefits and within scope.

Job description

Your responsibilities:

• Develop and clearance of the business case with project leads and SMEs.
• Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Lead the programme to deliver the business case benefits and outcomes.
• Maintaining the overall integrity and coherence of the programme and governance framework to support the delivery of each of its projects.
• Create and maintain project delivery frameworks for use by the Commission, ensuring that programmes and projects meet government functional standards and align to central project frameworks.
• Make recommendations and secure resource from senior stakeholder and allocate assigned resources across complex and large-scale programme and projects.
• Support and manage your team and wider Project Management community with learning and development to embed good project delivery and practice, providing coaching and mentoring to project professionals across the Commission.
• Oversee risk, issue and dependency management. Ensures mitigations are in place and resolved through negotiated agreement.
• Ensure realisation of benefits for stakeholder through planning and designing and that project outputs meet programme requirements.
• Engage with assurance reviews and support action on recommendations. Organise assurance processes such as gateway reviews, as required.
• Identify and manage stakeholder relationships and highlight need for senior level support. Manage internal and external relationships as appropriate
• Work with project leads and business as usual to ensure dependencies are actively managed, act as an arbiter and enforcer and resolve issues between the various elements of the programme
• Follow the Gambling Commission’s portfolio and project delivery frameworks and contributing towards its continuous improvement.

The above does not constitute an exhaustive list of duties. The post holder may be required to perform any reasonable tasks commensurate with the level of responsibility at the request of their Manager.

Person specification

What we’re looking for:

Essential criteria:

• Experience of managing complex programmes and projects within a dynamic and fast paced programme environment.
• Proven ability to lead, build consensus and influence (without authority) across a large and often diverse and senior group of stakeholders and develop strategic relationships (internal and external).
• Experience of ensuring strategic and operational risks and issues are identified, prioritised, assessed and mitigated.
• Leadership and development of a multi-year plan to deliver multiple projects and workstreams.
• Experience of creating an environment in which projects and teams can succeed – working effectively together, managing dependencies and leading people through change.

Desirable criteria:

• Agile Project Management Qualification (i.e. SAFe Portfolio Management)
• Managing Successful Programmes qualification
• Contract Management accreditation
• Experience of managing business change
• Knowledge of Government Functional Standard for Project Delivery
• Previous experience working in a Regulatory, investigative or Governmental organisation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,000, Gambling Commission contributes £17,671 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our offer to you:

• Civil Service Pension, with 28.97% employer contribution. Click for more information
• 26 days’ holiday, rising to 29 days after two years’ service (pro rata)
• Holiday purchase scheme (option to buy up to five extra days annual leave)
• Flexible working & family friendly policies, including compressed hours
• Ergonomic, fully accessible office, very close to Birmingham New Street Station
• Open, collaborative and people focused culture

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

Your application:

We value diversity in our workplace and are committed to a culture where each individual is engaged and feels that their contribution is valued and respected. We welcome all applications from candidates who meet the minimum requirements for the role.

To apply for this position, please see the Gambling Commission careers website.

The Gambling Commission have an anonymised recruitment process, so you should not attach a CV to your application. Instead, application questions will ask you to evidence how your personal skills, qualities and experience match the essential criteria for the role.

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 declined. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

The selection process for this vacancy will comprise of an in-person interview consisting of competency and technical questions and a presentation. To prepare for your interview please familiarise yourself with the STAR techniquefor answering interview questions.

The closing date for this role is midnight on 21st June 2026.

Interviews are expected to be held week commencing week commencing 29th June 2026.

Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before applying as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Incomplete applications will be discounted from shortlisting. Please ensure your application is fully completed and submitted before logging out of your account.

About us:

The Gambling Commission is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing and regulating gambling activities in the United Kingdom. Our primary role is to ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, openly, and free from crime, while also protecting vulnerable individuals from harm.

We regulate various forms of gambling, including casinos, bingo, sports betting, and lotteries, and issues licenses to operators. We are committed to ensuring a safe and responsible gambling environment, promoting transparency, and enforcing compliance with legal standards to maintain public trust in the industry.

We’re proud to have notable industry recognition, including the Regulatory Excellence Award from the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR). This prestigious award recognized the Commission's international leadership in enhancing consumer protection through industry collaboration.

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Please apply if you want to be part of an organisation that is force for good!

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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.

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

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 : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Governance, Gambling Commission, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4BP in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

Programme Manager, Illegal Markets Job Advert Opens in new window (pdf, 203kB)