G7 & G20 Director of Operations

Cabinet Office; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a skilled leader to oversee complex events and enhance the UK's international reputation. The ideal candidate will manage multidisciplinary teams and budgets, ensuring successful operational planning and delivery. This role offers a salary between £100,000 – £162,500 and benefits including generous leave and a competitive pension.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Paid parental leave

Tax-free childcare benefits

Interest-free travel loans

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading large, complex events.
• Extensive experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Exceptional financial leadership in a programme environment.

Responsibilities

• Enhance the UK's reputation in multilateral settings.
• Support UK policy priorities and strengthen strategic partnerships.
• Lead operational planning and delivery for high-profile events.

Skills

Leading large, complex events

Financial leadership

Team management

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis management

Job description

Overview

The UK will host the G20 Presidency in 2027 and the G7 Presidency in 2028. Each presidency centres on a three‑day Leaders’ Summit and a year‑long programme of ministerial meetings, working groups and engagement forums across the UK. These high‑profile international events attract intense domestic and global attention and provide a platform to advance UK objectives, strengthen bilateral relationships and deliver growth and reputational benefits for host regions and the UK as a whole. This role sits within the European and Global Issues Secretariat (EGIS), led by the Prime Minister’s Sherpa to the G7 and G20 Presidencies, Adviser on European and Global Issues and Second Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office. EGIS supports the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for the Cabinet Office in his role as Minister for European Union Relations. Our core role is to ensure that the UK has a consistent and coherent approach to its relationship with the EU, and to international economic and global issues – supporting the national interest, economic stability, secure borders, national security foundations and the Government’s missions (particularly on growth, health and clean energy), including supporting the integrity of the United Kingdom. A dedicated taskforce has been established to lead operational planning and delivery readiness for these high‑profile events.

Role Responsibilities

• Enhance the UK’s reputation as an effective broker in multilateral settings and a credible convening power.


• Support UK policy priorities, strengthen ties with strategic partners and secure tangible international outcomes.


• Generate growth and reputation benefits for host locations and showcase the UK, while leading the cross‑government operational strategy, planning and readiness for the programme, establishing clear governance, programme controls, risk and assurance.


• Provide line and task leadership to a multidisciplinary team (Commercial, Communications, Events, Finance, Security and Programme Delivery), building capability and an inclusive, high‑performing culture.


• Own the resource budget – develop the financial strategy and profile; establish robust forecasting, reporting, controls and evaluation; ensure compliance with Managing Public Money; and drive value for money, trade‑off decisions and benefits realisation.


• Lead the development of the Full Business Case using the Five‑Case Model (Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial and Management), integrating legal and digital considerations; take the case through departmental, Ministerial and HM Treasury approvals.


• Set the commercial strategy and oversee complex procurements and contract management for venues, logistics, technology and services, ensuring compliant routes to market and effective supplier performance.


• Oversee security planning and resilience with relevant partners, ensuring proportionate, integrated security operations and exercising crisis management and incident response arrangements.


• Direct planning and delivery readiness, including venue selection, logistics, accreditation and broadcast/media operations oversight.


• Provide high‑quality advice to the PM’s Sherpa, Ministers and senior officials; represent HMG with devolved administrations, host regions, international partners and external groups.


• Ensure strong public communications handling and stakeholder engagement.


• Work closely with EGIS senior leadership and directors across Whitehall to resolve cross‑cutting operational issues quickly, broker agreements and unblock delivery.

Essential Criteria

• A proven track record of leading large, complex events and/or summits, delivering at pace under scrutiny.


• Extensive experience leading multidisciplinary teams – Finance, Commercial, Security, Communications, Operations and Programme Management – for a large complex event or summit.


• Exceptional financial leadership in a programme environment, including responsibility for large budgets, value‑for‑money assurance and evaluation.


• Experience leading and operating in a complex stakeholder environment, with a proven ability to quickly gain the confidence of senior internal and external stakeholders, building and managing highly effective, influential and collaborative relationships.


• Experience leading, managing and developing high‑performing, resilient teams in high‑pressure conditions; the ability to build agile staff capability.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience managing large budgets.


• A keen interest in international affairs and multilateral governance.


• Strong commercial acumen: strategy, complex procurements, contract and supplier management and commercial risk management.


• Experience working with security partners to plan and deliver secure major events.


• Crisis leadership – sound judgement, calm decision‑making and clear communication in high‑pressure, fast‑moving situations.


• Significant experience developing major business cases using the Five‑Case Model and securing departmental, Ministerial and HM Treasury approvals for a Full Business Case.

Benefits

• £100,000 – £162,500 salary (band minimum for external candidates; existing civil servants paid according to normal rules).


• 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing to 30 days after five years of service; 8 public holidays plus a day paid for the King’s Birthday.


• Competitive pension scheme with an employer contribution of 28.97 %.


• Generous paid maternity, paternity and shared‑parental leave – higher than the statutory minimum.


• Tax‑free childcare benefits (government adds £2 for every £8 paid).


• Interest‑free travel‑season ticket or bicycle loans; access to on‑site fitness centres and staff canteens where available.


• Opportunities for professional development and career growth, supported by regular performance reviews.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted as per the vacancy advert. For enquiries, please contact [e-mail]. The application process will involve shortlisting, assessments and a panel interview. The advertised assignment duration is two years.