Policy and Project Manager, EURO 2028

Department for Culture, Media and Sport; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is seeking a delivery-focused manager to lead planning for the UK and Ireland hosting UEFA Euro 2028 within the Major Sporting Projects Delivery Directorate. You will oversee critical stakeholder relationships and drive delivery of key workstreams.

The role emphasises cross-government collaboration, integrated planning, risk management, and governance processes, with responsibilities across policy development, funding monitoring, and readiness

Qualifications

• Experience delivering major government programmes.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience in governance and risk management.
• Excellent briefing and governance documentation.
• Knowledge of programme management techniques.
• PRINCE2/Managing Successful Programmes desirable.

Responsibilities

• Build strong relationships with delivery partners including UK&I 2028 Ltd.
• Manage policy development and engage on key issues.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans and risk registers.
• Lead cross-government working groups with clear reporting and actions.
• Monitor DCMS funding allocations to partners and ensure resources are used effectively.
• Support other priority policy and event delivery projects as needed.
• Foster an inclusive, high-performing team environment.

Skills

Programme delivery

Stakeholder management

Governance frameworks

Risk management

Policy development

Communication skills

Job description

About the job

Job summary

The Major Sporting Projects Delivery Directorate is a directorate within DCMS’ Strategy, Sport and Events Group, which oversees the Government’s input to some of the highest profile programmes in the world of sport. Amongst the projects and programmes covered by the team are:

• The UEFA European Championships 2028 - ensuring the Government delivers on its commitments to ensure that this major event is staged successfully, maximising economic growth and benefiting local communities. This programme is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio.
• The future pipeline of major sporting events - driving forward the Government's work, with partners, to secure, and successfully host, the world’s biggest and best sporting events.
• Grassroots facilities delivery - overseeing the delivery of hundreds of millions into multi-sport grassroots facilities across the UK, as part of the EURO 2028 impact programme and to tackle inactivity, support health & wellbeing and build cohesive communities through providing access to high quality shared sporting spaces.

The directorate evolved out of a unit within the existing Sport and Gambling Directorate, with which it continues to work seamlessly.

The team prioritises a positive workplace culture, where colleagues are committed to excellence in delivery, ongoing personal development, a supportive working environment, and operating seamlessly with colleagues and stakeholders based across the UK, and beyond.

Job description

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to work on the planning for UK and Ireland hosting the men’s UEFA European Championships in 2028, which will be the largest sporting event that the UK and Ireland have ever jointly hosted. The post holder will manage critical stakeholder relationships to drive forward the planning and delivery of key tournament workstreams.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships with key delivery partners both internal and external to government, including UK&I 2028 Ltd (the private company established to coordinate domestic partners' hosting responsibilities), acting as a key interface to facilitate successful delivery and supporting partners to deliver
• Manage policy development and engagement on key issues, driving forward problem-solving to reach effective, collaborative solutions
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, risk registers, and milestone tracking tools, creating clear frameworks to enable delivery at pace
• Lead cross-government working groups to drive delivery, ensuring strategic direction is aligned, with structured reporting, timely documentation, and clear tracking of action items
• Monitor DCMS funding allocations to operational partners across workstreams, ensuring resources are distributed effectively
• Take a flexible approach to working across the team including leading / supporting other priority policy and event delivery projects across the programme as needed (potentially including areas such as delivery of legislation, C3, testing and readiness)
• Contribute to creating an inclusive, high-performing, and supportive team environment within the Directorate.

Person specification

The ideal candidate would have the following key skills and experience, please note that the desirable skills will only be used in the event of tied candidates.

Essential requirements:

• Proven experience working on major delivery programmes, managing complex projects in fast-moving environments
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills to manage multiple stakeholders and government departments
• Track record of using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to drive forward policy and programme delivery initiatives.
• Experience in designing, supporting, or running governance frameworks and managing project risk/issue registers across multiple workstreams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with experience drafting high-quality briefs, reports, and governance documentation
• Knowledge of programme and project management techniques and experience of delivering results using these methodologies

Desirable skills:

• Formal Project Management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile, or Managing Successful Programmes).
• Experience of working on a major event
• Experience of working in a transport and / or security related policy area

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture