G7 & G20 Director of Operations

Government Recruitment Service; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in the UK is seeking a Director of Operations to lead operational planning for the G20 and G7 Presidencies. The role involves developing strategies, managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing budgets, and ensuring effective communication. The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, financial strategy experience, and a proven ability to oversee large-scale events. This is a high-profile role requiring a collaborative approach to achieve government objectives and enhance the UK's global reputation.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in leading cross-government operational strategies.
• Proficiency in developing financial strategies and ensuring compliance with public money management.
• Experience in overseeing complex procurements and contract management.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-government operational strategy and planning readiness.
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team across various departments.
• Develop financial profiles and manage the operational budget.
• Oversee security planning and resilience efforts.
• Provide high-quality advice to senior officials and the PM's Sherpa.

Skills

Leadership and management

Financial strategy development

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Crisis management

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

The Role

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 our relationship with the EU, and to international economic and global issues - in support of the UK’s national interest, its economic stability, secure borders and national security foundations, and the Government’s missions (particularly on growth, health and clean energy), including supporting the integrity of the United Kingdom. We aim to be an excellent, interesting and challenging place to work, which attracts and retains high-performing people from across Government, with a supportive, diverse and inclusive working environment.

We are establishing a dedicated taskforce to lead operational planning and delivery readiness for these high profile events. As Director of Operations, you will lead His Majesty’s Government (HMG) on finance, commercial, communications, security and provide assurance of the operational event management. This will involve working directly to No.10 and the Prime Minister’s G7 & G20 Sherpa and in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office’s Protocol Team. You will set up and run the operational programme from inception to post event evaluation, actively manage the budget, and secure approvals through a comprehensive Full Business Case. The taskforce will be structured across Policy and Operations; this role leads the Operational strand working closely with the Policy Director.

What this programme can deliver:

• Enhance the UK’s reputation as an effective broker in multilateral for a and a credible convening power.
• Support UK policy priorities, strengthen ties with strategic partners, and secure tangible international outcomes.
• Generate growth and reputational benefits for host locations and showcase the UK.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead 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; put in place robust forecasting, reporting, controls and evaluation; ensure compliance with Managing Public Money; and drive value for money, trade-off decisions and benefits realisation.
• Lead 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 (HMT) 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.
• Ensue 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.