Honours Strategy Lead


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£56,582 to £63,384 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	M2 3AW
Job type:	Temporary
Posting date:	21 Oct 2026
Closing date:	4 Nov 2026

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Summary

The Honours & Awards team of nine, led by Meg Taylor (G6), is part of the Public Bodies, Appointments and Honours team within Corporate Strategy.

The honours team manage honours nominations from across DCMS sectors, two rounds per year: New Year’s Day and the King’s Birthday. The dedicated team delivers each element of the process and works closely with Cabinet Office as well as the independent honours committees, SCS and Ministers. This is an exciting time to be working within the honours system, as a high priority for both our Secretary of State and our Permanent Secretary.

DCMS plays an active role in Arts & Media, Sport, and Community & Voluntary Service lists, as well as contributing to Public Service, Economy and Science Technology and Research lists. DCMS is the biggest departmental contributor of nominations to the Honours system.

This is a new, high-profile role at the heart of the Department's honours work. It offers a unique opportunity to lead strategic reform of the DCMS honours system and help ensure that honours better reflect the diversity, achievements and contribution of people across the whole of the UK. Improving the honours system is a key ministerial priority. Following an internal review of DCMS honours processes, you will lead work to implement a programme of reform and drive improvements across the department. You will also play a central role in shaping DCMS's contribution to ongoing improvements to the honours system led by the Cabinet Office.

You will lead two major workstreams:

Deliver honours system reform within DCMS. Implementing the recommendations from the departmental honours review; developing policies and processes that strengthen the quality, diversity and regional representation of honours nominations; designing and leading engagement with senior stakeholders, including Ministers, the Permanent Secretary, Honours Committee Chairs; and driving cultural and organisational change to improve understanding and participation in the honours system across the department.
Lead DCMS engagement on the cross- government honours review. Coordinating DCMS’ contribution to the cross-Government honours review; providing strategic advice to ministers and senior leaders.

You will manage and be supported by an HEO analyst, who will provide data, insight and demographic analysis to support policy development and drive improvements in the diversity of nominations.

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