Senior Programme Director

To lead Wilton Park programmes in support of key UK priorities and wider international policy challenges, with a primary focus on either energy, climate and environment and/or innovation, science and technology. To design and convene high-level policy dialogues on these issues, building diverse networks to get the right people in the room, generate practical outcomes and ensure impact.

Wilton Park Programme Directors need to maintain a level of flexibility to anticipate and respond to new or emerging policy trends and crises, whether within or beyond their portfolios. Wider experience of economic growth, security and trade policy and/or international development and global public goods would also be of strong value.

To establish, nurture and maintain relationships with a wide range of senior policy-makers and funding partners from across government, civil society and business in order to plan interventions that support wider UK objectives and provide policy and wider institutional impact.

To provide other policy, strategic and corporate support to the Head of Policy, Chief Executive, other Programme Directors and Policy Officers, helping to plan and deliver a cohesive and strategic set of dialogue activity, sequenced evenly across the year.

To contribute to the effective running of Wilton Park, including communications, outreach and mentoring of junior staff.

• Key responsibilities Identify, design, develop and deliver annual and, where possible, multi-annual programmes of policy dialogues, with a primary focus on issues of energy, climate & environment and/or innovation, science and technology, ensuring policy relevance and impact and sourcing relevant partner funding (through government and/or non-government funding partners).
• Co-create policy programmes and dialogues with partners (FCDO, BIST, DESNZ, other UK government departments, wider organisations) managing relationships to deliver partner objectives while ensuring respect for Wilton Park autonomy and agency.
• Identify and thoughtfully engage with potential speakers and participants to ensure high-quality events meet objectives, deliver outcomes for partners and reflect balanced participation of nationalities, disciplines and gender
• Convene and facilitate Wilton Park discussions and events with professionalism and impartiality, creating a safe and trusting environment so that all participants and speakers have an opportunity to engage in meaningful, discreet and constructive dialogue using appropriate, relevant and outcome-focused facilitation techniques.
• Edit and oversee the delivery of dialogue-related outputs, including summary reports capturing key findings and policy recommendations/options.
• Represent the organisation at a senior level, making presentations and attending networking opportunities as required and relevant to field of work.
• Deputise for the Director of Policy and members of the Senior Management Team when appropriate.
• Work with Policy Officers, Project Managers (PMs) and the event Delivery Team to oversee effective and efficient management of project administration, including regular planning meetings
• Financial oversight for project budgets: work in collaboration with PMs to ensure the monitoring of income and expenditure throughout event life and accountability for financial outcomes
• Digital and social media communications: work with the communications department to plan, agree and assist with implementation of a media strategy for each even (in line with Wilton Park’s social media strategy)
• Monitoring and evaluation: understand and report transparently on outcomes to partners and sponsors to ensure aims and objectives are met within prescribed timelines. Apply lessons learned and outputs to foster continuous improvement and ensure the highest quality design and delivery.
• Standard operating procedures and knowledge management: comply with Wilton Park’s database requirements and comply with local health and safety requirements
• Participate in central/corporate groups or tasks and carry out other duties as may reasonably be required from time to time

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Initial Sift

Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be carried out using the lead Essential Skill:

"Substantial policy and international experience in at least one of the following fields, including understanding of the international policy landscape, UK priorities and the key partners and institutions engaged:

Energy, climate and environment;

Innovation, science and technology."

Candidates who meet the required standard at the initial sift stage will progress to either a full sift or directly to interview.

Full Sift

Applications progressing to a full sift will be assessed against the Behaviours and Essential skills listed below:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions

Essential skills

• Substantial policy and international experience in at least one of the following fields, including understanding of the international policy landscape, UK priorities and the key partners and institutions engaged: Energy, climate and environment;
• Innovation, science and technology.
• Strong and diverse institutional networks in the above fields. Track record of fundraising and business development.
• Ability to lead, inspire, develop and work with diverse teams at different levels.
• Experience of designing, convening and facilitating high-level plenary discussions and smaller group workshops to achieve agreed outcomes.
• Experience of engaging internationally, including managing international networks of relevant stakeholders, diplomatic tradecraft and policy negotiation.
• Deep understanding of UK’s overall foreign policy priorities and key partner relationships, including with multilateral institutions.

Interview

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework (opens in a new window) including Behaviours, Experience, Technical skills and Essential skills above. The following Behaviours will be assessed:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Candidates will be required to deliver a presentation. Details will be provided approximately one week before the interview.

Second Interview

The highest-scoring candidates from the first interview stage will be invited to a second interview.

The interview panel may ask you other questions which will not be shared with you in advance, including any follow-up questions to explore further into your skills and experience, and other elements listed in the job advert, for example, experience, abilities, strengths and technical skills. The panel will be looking for examples of your own work, experience, and ability so do try and avoid using AI written answers without any human oversight.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.