Location
City of Westminster

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£86,000 per annum

About the Role
We are seeking a high performing and motivated individual to lead the Arts Team as maternity leave cover for up to one year. This senior leadership role involves managing a team of around 20 people and playing a visible leadership role within the wider Culture Directorate as part of its Senior Management Team.

The role requires developing strong relationships with stakeholders across the arts sector, understanding their businesses and art forms, and representing their interests across central government to enhance the arts offering for citizens.

Key responsibilities include senior sponsorship of Arts Council England (ACE), one of DCMS’s largest Arm’s Length Bodies. This involves managing senior relationships, working closely with ACE on their strategic objectives, designing and delivering core programmes, overseeing governance and budgets, and representing arts sector interests at Spending Reviews and fiscal events.

Alongside ACE, the role includes implementing the findings of the independent Review of the Arts Council, developing future funding models and policy to ensure the sustainability of the arts sector, and acting as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) at DCMS for several ACE-delivered programmes such as the £425m Creative Foundations Fund.

The Deputy Director will also develop and deliver policy across government on core issues affecting the arts sector, including cultural education and skills policy in collaboration with the Department for Education, as well as philanthropy, devolution, and cultural taxation.

Experience
Proven track record of visible, inclusive, and empowering leadership with the ability to build, engage, and coach high-performing, diverse teams. Experience leading strategic policy development and navigating complex political environments. Demonstrated ability to act as a trusted adviser to ministers, senior officials, and stakeholders.

Strong evidence-based strategic and analytical skills with experience formulating, leading, and implementing strategies, policies, and programmes, including under pressure. Experience driving value for money and representing strategic interests during fiscal events.

Highly developed written and oral communication skills with a track record of briefing on complex and sensitive issues and building collaborative, trusting relationships to build consensus and drive outcomes.

About you
Innovative and able to foster a culture of creative thinking and continuous improvement. Skilled at identifying emerging opportunities to reform policy approaches, tackle complex structural challenges, and deliver high-value outcomes in a changing environment.

Understanding of the UK arts and creative economy landscape, including operational, financial, and regulatory drivers affecting major cultural institutions and Arm's Length Bodies, is desirable.

Qualifications
Not specified, but senior leadership experience and relevant sector knowledge are essential.