Location: Hybrid / Steyning, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Events Services | General
AnnualFixed salary:£ 32600.00
About Wilton Park
Wilton Park is the UK’s foremost multilateral facilitator. It serves as the UK government’s expert in convening international policy dialogue, bringing together decision-makers from around the world to address shared challenges.
As an executive agency of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, (FCDO), we host approximately 80 events annually, bringing together over 3,000 participants from over 100 countries.
If you believe in work that makes the world a better place, if you like being part of passionate and dedicated teams, if you want to come to work and be yourself, if you feel that your most important work lies ahead, then we want to hear from you.
- 25 days' annual leave, increasing by one day per year to a maximum of 30 days after five years' service, plus an additional day's leave after 20 years' service. This is in addition to public and privilege holidays.
- Flexible working, available to all employees where compatible with business needs.
- Enhanced family leave and pay, including maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, subject to qualifying conditions.
- Employee Assistance Programme, providing 24/7 confidential support on matters such as wellbeing, finances, childcare and elder care.
- Learning and development opportunities, including mentoring, coaching and leadership training.
- A range of employee benefits and discounts, including cashback offers through our benefits provider.
- Interest-free loans for season travel tickets, station parking or bicycle purchases for commuting.
- Free annual eye test (up to £25) and a contribution of up to £100 towards glasses or prescription lenses.
- Car parking and EV charging available on site.
- A culture that values equity, diversity and inclusion, supported by our EDI Strategy.
- Colleague recognition scheme, enabling peers to recognise and celebrate achievements and contributions.
- Long service awards, including additional annual leave and gifts in recognition of service.
Location and hybrid working
Your contractual place of work will be Wiston House, Wilton Park's headquarters in the South Downs, West Sussex. This Grade I listed sixteenth-century house hosts the majority of Wilton Park events and is set within beautiful grounds.
Wilton Park supports flexible and hybrid working where operationally appropriate. Working arrangements vary depending on the nature of the role. Some positions are based solely at Wiston House, while others offer hybrid working with a mix of office and home working. Certain policy-related roles may also provide the opportunity to work from FCDO Headquarters in Whitehall as part of their working arrangements. For this role, working patterns will be discussed and agreed based on business and operational requirements. Most members of the Policy Department currently work from home two to three days per week.
Job summary
Grade
EO
Working pattern and hours
Full-time, 37 net hours per week, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour unpaid lunch break each day.
We expect the successful candidate to start in January/February 2027, subject to the successful completion of pre-employment checks and security clearance.
The role
Event Supervisors play a pivotal role in delivering high-profile international policy events. You will be responsible for the end-to-end coordination of event administration, logistics planning and seamless delivery.
You will be a highly organised, solutions-focused professional who enjoys working with information systems, remains calm under pressure and responds confidently to last-minute changes. Proactive and adaptable, you will manage several events at once, balancing competing priorities and delivering work on time to high standards. Accuracy and attention to detail are paramount to ensure the success of each event.
Collaboration is central to this role. You will work closely with colleagues across Wilton Park, as well as external partners and suppliers, whose contributions are essential to our public diplomacy work. Each event is different, giving you opportunities to meet and engage with people from a wide range of countries and backgrounds.
In return, we offer a stimulating and rewarding role within a supportive team culture. This role also offers excellent development opportunities in event management, project management, stakeholder engagement and international event delivery, all within a unique diplomatic environment where your work will have a real impact.
Key responsibilities
- As an Event Supervisor you will take ownership of event logistics from planning through to delivery, ensuring participants receive an exceptional experience at every stage.
- You will independently oversee participant communications, accommodation, travel, budgeting, registrations and on-site delivery. This requires the accurate management of large volumes of information across systems.
- Strong IT skills and data management skills are essential. You will manage the online portal, ensuring data is handled accurately and in line with GDPR requirements. Using Microsoft Teams and the wider Microsoft 365 suite, you will create professional event materials and support clear communication across event teams.
- The role requires excellent customer service, with professional and effective communication with senior delegates, speakers, stakeholders and suppliers.
- As part of a friendly and highly collaborative wider team, you will support front of house and also work with operational departments (catering, facilities, security), sharing accurate and up-to-date information and ensuring event delivery to the highest standards.
- The role offers opportunities for travel across the UK and overseas, including long‑haul international trips and occasional visits to regions where specialist training is required.
- As an ambassador for Wilton Park and the wider Civil Service, you’ll demonstrate values of ambition, creativity, collaboration and respect, while continuously seeking improvements and supporting colleagues in various duties and projects.
Person specification
Essential skills
- Proven experience coordinating events, conferences, hospitality operations or customer‑facing projects.
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365, CRM and information management systems.
- Excellent customer service, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Highly organised, with strong time management, prioritisation and multitask while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Experience working internationally and/or willingness to travel.
- Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage changing priorities, work at pace, and make sound decisions under pressure.
The following criteria are desirable rather than essential. They will not be assessed during the recruitment process but may be used as a tie‑break where candidates achieve the same overall score.
- Committed to personal development and developing self, others and the organisation.
- Able to support change, improve efficiency and respond to evolving business needs.
Selection process
Initial Sift
Where a large number of applications are received, an initial sift will be carried out using the lead Essential Skill, "Proven experience coordinating events, conferences, hospitality operations or customer‑facing projects."
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
- Managing a Quality Service
- Changing and Improving
- Seeing the Big Picture
Essential skills
- Proven experience coordinating events, conferences, hospitality operations or customer‑facing projects.
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft 365, CRM and information management systems.
- Excellent customer service, strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Highly organised, with strong time management, prioritisation and multitask while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
- Experience working internationally and/or willingness to travel.
- Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to manage changing priorities, work at pace, and make sound decisions under pressure.
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:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
In some cases, candidates will be required to deliver a presentation. In others, they will complete an assessment, typically an in‑tray exercise, although the format may vary depending on the requirements of the role. 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.
Scoring
Applications and interviews will be assessed using a 1-5 scoring scale. A score of 3 typically indicates that the required standard has been met, although benchmarks may vary depending on recruitment campaigns where application volumes are high.
The information provided in your CV and personal statement will be used as part of the initial sift and will be assessed against the essential criteria for the role.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected interview date/s – w/c 16 November 2026
Interview location – your interview will be conducted face to face at Wiston House.
Travel and attendance requirements
Please note that Wiston House is not directly accessible by public transport and is approximately 20 minutes by taxi from Shoreham-by-Sea railway station. As this is your contractual place of work, travel costs to and from Wiston House cannot be reimbursed.
Regular attendance at Wiston House will be required for events, team meetings and other departmental activities. Overnight accommodation may be available during events for those who do not live locally.
Additional information
Nationality requirements
This job is open to the following:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Individuals who hold (permanent) settled status
In addition to nationality requirements outlined above, to pass security clearance you are required to have a UK footprint of 2 years within the last 5 years (including as a Crown Servant overseas). This is a mandatory requirement of National Security Vetting (NSV).
You should be aware that a lack of sufficient background information may prevent you from being granted security clearance.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre‑employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Use of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments in order to apply for this position.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer and are part of the Disability Confident Scheme. Applicants who declare a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the role may be offered an interview in line with the scheme requirements. Selection will continue to be based on merit and candidates must demonstrate that they meet the essential requirements of the role. [civil-serv...ers.gov.uk] , [gov.uk]
Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles
Wilton Park’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles (opens in a new window). If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should, in the first instance, contact csc.recruitment@fcdo.gov.uk . If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from Wilton Park, you can contact the Office of the Civil Service Commissioners at info@csc.gov.uk
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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