Vacancy -- Director, Academi Wales (Deputy Director)

Recruitment Principles

The Welsh Government'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’s Recruitment Principles.

Vacancy Details

Education and Public Services
Senior Civil Service 1
£70,000
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Other
Please see the candidate pack for the Terms of Appointment.
2 Years
Pan Wales
The post is pan Wales and the post holder may work from any of the Welsh Government Offices. However, there is an expectation that due to the nature of the work and the need to meet with Ministers the successful applicant will work from Cardiff 2-3 days a week.

Closing Date

03/12/2019, 23:55

Purpose of Post

To provide effective leadership for all aspects of the Academi Wales function, working with leaders across Welsh Public Services to improve organisational performance and build management and leadership capacity. Working to the Minister for Housing and Local Government and First Minister, it will take the lead on the cultural and behavioural development of One Welsh Public Service and setting the direction for Leadership and Management Development within the legislative context and the Programme for Government within Wales.

Through the team, the role develops and sets the public service leadership development agenda for Wales, working across Welsh Government, the Public Sector and the Third Sector. It is a very busy and varied, mostly externally, facing role which requires the postholder to develop and nurture high trust based and collaborative relationships with senior leaders across the whole of Wales. There is a significant opportunity over the term of the post to shape the One Welsh Public Service leadership agenda and to develop the Academi Wales function, its cross sector engagement and delivery work programme in its current field - but also more widely.

The role also provides professional leadership and organisational development expertise, offering advice, consultation and mentoring to both leaders and their organisations. It is supported by the Academi Wales Advisory Board which comprises representatives from the most senior levels of public service.

The role also has responsibility for the national reputation and impact of Academi Wales, working with other home nations on progressive development agendas on matters of public service leadership, building and maintaining relationships with the Scottish Executive, Greater Manchester and the Cabinet Office Centre for Public Service Leadership.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

Welsh Government accepts the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new staff) can perform at their best. The Equality Act 2010 uses the medical definition of disability (“a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities”).

We guarantee to interview anyone who is disabled whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence for the role and any qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people.

If you have an impairment or health condition, or use British Sign Language and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, or wish to discuss how we will support you if you were to be successful, please email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales as soon as possible and a member of the team will contact you to discuss your requirements and any questions you may have.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Assessment Process

How to apply

Completed application form, an up to date CV, together with a personal statement of suitability for the post should be submitted by the closing date.  All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SCSrecruitment@wales.gsi.gov.uk to request an application pack in an alternative format or if you need to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Senior Civil Service recruitment process within the Welsh Government, please see the SCS Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link). Further guidance on Preparing Your Personal Statement (link) is also available.

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Other information about the vacancy

The Recruitment Team via the Welsh Government system will acknowledge your application and when appropriate you will be advised about the outcome of the short list meeting. Candidates who proceed to the next stage of selection will be required to complete online psychometric tests and to attend a Stakeholder Engagement Exercise. Both activities will form part of the overall assessment required for this recruitment exercise in addition to the selection panel interview.

Shortlisted candidates will undergo online psychometric tests that will include numerical and verbal reasoning and a discussion with a psychologist. You will receive a link to these on-line tests within 10 working days from the shortlisting meeting. The shortlisting meeting will take place on 12 December 2019.

Please note that if you are a Civil Servant and applying for this vacancy on a lateral basis you will not be required to undergo on line psychometric tests.

If you have completed the online psychometric tests in the last 2 years, it will not be necessary for you to take these tests again for this particular recruitment exercise.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to take part in an engagement exercise with stakeholders on 8/9 January 2020. Details will follow.

Interviews are scheduled for 20 January 2020. They will be held in Welsh Government offices, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ. Interviews will last around 45 minutes.  

The panel will receive feedback following your psychometric tests before you are interviewed. Your interview will be a competency based interview that will consider how your skills and experience, as outlined in your CV and personal statement, meet the requirements for this post.

If candidates are asked to prepare a presentation for their interview, they will normally be given at least one week’s notice of the topic. Please note that your presentation is to be delivered without the use of hand-outs or electronic devices, however, you are welcome to use prompt cards.

Interviews are scheduled for 20 January 2020. They will be held in Welsh Government offices, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.

Reg Kilpatrick - Reg.Kilpatrick@gov.wales / 0300 025 0913.


This vacancy is closed to applications.