Project Lead, Urban20 London 2027

Greater London Authority; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working up to 3 days a week

30 days annual leave

Competitive salary package

Job summary

Greater London Authority (GLA) is seeking a Project Lead to deliver the Urban20 London Summit 2027. You will provide strategic leadership for London's U20 Chair year, overseeing planning, governance and delivery with senior stakeholders from the GLA, international networks, government, business and civil society.

You will manage a multidisciplinary team, handle complex budgets, develop partnerships and drive an integrated communications strategy to maximise London's profile and legacy globally.

Qualifications

• Significant in-depth knowledge and experience in a complex political, high-profile organisation at a senior level to manage or supervise delivery of cross-organisational projects.
• Experience in project management including governance, risk, budget control and delivery planning for major projects or events.
• Senior management experience with leading multi-disciplinary teams delivering professional, strategic advice.
• Experience of delivering complex events and managing commercial partnerships within events.
• Experience driving integrated communications and engagement strategies for high-profile programmes or campaigns.
• Proven track record of building senior relationships across private, public and third sectors.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder expectations and resource/budget management.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning and delivery of the Urban20 London Summit 2027 and related programme activity.
• Oversee programme governance, risk management, reporting, budget control and delivery planning.
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary project team across events, communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders across government, city networks, partner organisations and the Mayor's Office.
• Coordinate with international city partners to align London's U20 Chair year with the Summit programme.
• Develop commercial partnerships, sponsorships and funding arrangements to support objectives.
• Oversee procurement and management of suppliers and delivery partners.
• Drive a comprehensive communications, marketing and engagement strategy to raise profile and influence.
• Lead development of city-wide cultural and engagement activity complementing the Summit.
• Provide high-quality strategic advice, briefings and recommendations to senior decision-makers.
• Ensure delivery aligns with Mayoral priorities and city outcomes.
• Represent the GLA in high-profile meetings and international forums.
• Support live event operations and occasional evenings/weekends during key delivery periods.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Governance & risk management

Budget control

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Partnership development

Job description

Interview date: From w/c 7 Dec 2026 (may be subject to change)

About the team

Events for London delivers some of the capital's most significant and high-profile events on behalf of the Mayor of London. From major public celebrations and cultural programmes to international summits, the team brings together partners from across London, the UK and around the world to showcase the capital, support Mayoral priorities and create lasting economic, social and cultural impact.

As part of the External Relations unit, the team leads the planning and delivery of events that strengthen London's global reputation, convene influential leaders and organisations, celebrate the capital's diversity, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement on the issues that matter most to Londoners and cities around the world.

About the role

This is a unique opportunity to lead the delivery of the Urban20 (U20) London Summit 2027, a major international gathering of city leaders from across the G20 nations. As Project Lead, you will provide strategic leadership for London's U20 Chair year, overseeing the planning, governance and delivery of the Summit and its associated programme of activity.

Working at the heart of a high-profile Mayoral priority, you will bring together senior stakeholders from across the Greater London Authority, international city networks, government, business and civil society to deliver an ambitious programme that positions London as a global leader in urban policy, climate action and city diplomacy.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team, oversee complex budgets and governance arrangements, develop commercial and funding partnerships, and drive an integrated communications and engagement strategy that maximises the profile, influence and legacy of the Summit for London.

What your day will look like

No two days will be the same. One day you could be briefing senior Mayoral advisers and Corporate Management Team members on programme progress, while the next you could be negotiating partnership opportunities, reviewing risk and governance reports, or working with international city leaders and organisations to shape the Summit agenda.

You'll oversee the delivery of multiple workstreams, manage a talented project team and coordinate activity across policy, communications, events, marketing and stakeholder engagement functions. You'll work closely with international partners including UCLG and C40, ensuring London's U20 Chair year delivers meaningful outcomes and strengthens the capital's global influence.

As the programme develops, you'll help shape a city-wide programme of events and engagement activity, ensuring the Summit reaches audiences far beyond the conference venue and leaves a lasting legacy for Londoners and partner cities around the world.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the strategic planning and delivery of the Urban20 London Summit 2027 and associated programme activity.
• Oversee programme governance, risk management, reporting, budget control and delivery planning.
• Manage and develop a multidisciplinary team responsible for project management, events, communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across government, city networks, partner organisations and the Mayor's Office.
• Work closely with UCLG, C40 and international city partners to coordinate London's U20 Chair year and Summit programme.
• Develop commercial partnerships, sponsorship opportunities and funding arrangements that support programme objectives and deliver value for London.
• Oversee procurement activity and the management of suppliers, consultants and specialist delivery partners.
• Drive an ambitious communications, marketing and engagement strategy that raises the profile and influence of the Summit.
• Lead the development of a wider city-wide programme of cultural and engagement activity that complements the Summit.
• Provide high-quality strategic advice, briefings and recommendations to senior decision-makers.
• Ensure delivery is aligned with Mayoral priorities, organisational objectives and wider city outcomes.
• Represent the GLA in high-profile meetings, partnerships and international forums.
• Support live event operations and work occasional evenings and weekends as required during key delivery periods.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Significant in-depth knowledge and experience of working in a complex political, high-profile organisation at a senior level to manage or supervise the delivery of complex cross-organisational projects.
• Experience of project management, including governance, risk management, budget control and delivery planning for major complex projects or events.
• Senior management experience and a strong track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams providing professional, strategic advice.
• Experience of complex event delivery and delivering commercial partnerships within events.
• Significant experience of driving forward an integrated communications and engagement strategy or profile-raising activity for high-profile programmes, events or campaigns.
• Successful track record of building and nurturing senior relationships across both the private, public and third sectors.
• Successful track record of managing complex stakeholder expectations.
• Sound understanding and experience of resource and budget management, including income generation

This role is based at City Hall, Royal Docks (Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1ZE).

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager David Holley would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at [e-mail]

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates, in limited circumstances. Please contact the hiring manager if you wish to discuss this further.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: W/c 7 Dec 2026 (may be subject to change)

Equality, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying

• On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• at least 18 months service with the GLA

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy.This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy.Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed.

If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment. For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure .

IMPORTANT: If you are a current GLA employee on a fixed-term contract, which is due to end BEFORE the end date of this vacancy, you DO NOT NEED to complete the Approval for secondment application form as it is not a secondment.

If you are successful in securing this secondment opportunity, you will need to be released from your existing role, so please ensure that you make your line manager aware of your application.

The GLA is proud to be a Level 2: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation, and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

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