Public Appointments Senior Talent and Events Lead

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer pension 28.97%

25 days annual leave

8 Bank Holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Professional qualifications paid (CIPD

Diversity and inclusion

24-hour EAP

Flexible working

Job summary

Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking a Senior Talent and Events Lead to join the Public Appointments Team. The role focuses on attracting diverse talent for high-profile public appointments, engaging with candidates, networks and senior stakeholders, and driving outreach initiatives.

You will lead on events, support succession planning for PADEG leadership, prepare briefings for Ministers, and manage recruitment campaigns for public bodies.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or involved in running high-profile events with senior stakeholder involvement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with diverse audiences, including senior stakeholders.
• Strong networking skills and ability to build trusted relationships across levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead on diversity in Public Appointments and succession planning for PADEG leadership.
• Coordinate large regional outreach events with Ministerial attendance for potential candidates.
• Prepare high-quality written advice for senior stakeholders and Ministers, including briefings and agendas.
• Lead recruitment campaign management for 1-2 DfT public bodies/committees and manage future appointments.

Skills

Event leadership

Stakeholder management

Networking

Communication

Job description

Location:

Birmingham, Leeds, London (Hybrid)

Salary:

£44,241 National Minimum Salary: £44,241; London Minimum Salary: £48,581 – A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type:

Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a unique role in the Department for Transport’s Public Appointments Team, where you will play a key role in attracting and engaging diverse talent for high-profile public appointments. As Senior Talent and Events Lead, you will drive outreach and engagement activities and lead the next phase of our diversity in public appointments strategy and events programme, building strong relationships with current and prospective candidates, diversity networks, industry groups, and senior stakeholders across government.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Lead on diversity in Public Appointments, including the next phase of our strategy, and succession planning for the leadership and membership of our PADEG.
• Lead and coordinate large regional outreach events, with Ministerial and senior stakeholder attendance, for potential public appointment candidates.
• Prepare high-quality and timely written advice for senior stakeholders and Ministers, including advice, briefings, and agendas.
• Lead recruitment campaign management for 1-2 DfT public bodies/committees; being the main point of contact and managing the forward look of appointments for those bodies/committees.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About you

• Experience of leading or being involved with running high profile events that have had senior stakeholder involvement and/or attendance.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with a wide variety of audiences, including with senior stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management, including managing upwards and task managing others.
• Strong networking skills, with the ability to proactively identify opportunities to connect and build trusted relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders of all levels.

Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 15th September 2026.