Vacancy -- Divisional Support Officer (Strategic Road Network Division)

Working for the Civil Service

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.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Climate Change and Rural Affairs Group
Strategic Road Network
EO - £26,900 - £30,610
26,900
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Cardiff, Pan Wales
TBC

Purpose of Post:

Overview of the role

This is an exciting opportunity to perform a pivotal role at the centre of the Strategic Road Network (SRN) Division within Welsh Government. 

The division is responsible for the planning, operation, maintenance and improvement of the motorway and trunk road network in Wales on behalf of Welsh Ministers.  One of Wales’ most important infrastructure assets with a value of over £18.0bn, it is essential for supporting the Welsh Government’s vision for a sustainable and prosperous Wales.

The Division is a friendly and supportive place to work with team members focused on working together to do a good job.

The role has responsibility to provide direct support to the Divisions Deputy Director who has up to 70 permanent staff, a capital budget of approximately £190m annually and a revenue budget of approximately £70m annually.

In assisting the Deputy Director, the post will require contact with the Director for Transport and Digital Connectivity (TDC) and associated office, Welsh Government engineers as well as finance colleagues and Ministerial private offices. 

The role will also interact with external bodies as the first point of contact to the Deputy Director to assist in the management of responses and/or diary commitments.  The external bodies will include Local Authorities, National Highways, Department for Transport, consultants, contractors, solicitors, and members of the public.

Providing wider support across the Division will be a requirement of the role and could include areas such as finance, processing of third party claims and land management. 

The role provides a unique opportunity to gain an insight into the operation and maintenance of one of Wales’ most important infrastructure assets and to develop a wide network of stakeholder relationships. 

Key tasks:

Key Tasks

  • Managing the diary and inbox of the Deputy Director autonomously, assessing where to appropriately direct emails to ensure timely responses.
  • Responding directly to the Deputy Director’s emails where appropriate.
  • Managing filing and records management for key areas within the Division.
  • Working closely with engineers, trunk road authorities, consulting engineers and contractors on queries.
  • Assisting with Governance procedures including Freedom of Information requests and Ministerial advice submissions.
  • Minute taking duties.
  • Maintaining Divisional organograms and resource records for the Division.
  • Co-ordination of corporate returns including audits and Committees.
  • Provide a support role across the division, assisting teams experiencing high workload.

Development opportunities:

The role provides the opportunity to develop knowledge and gain experience in the management and maintenance of the trunk road network within Wales, working within a delivery focused area of Welsh Government. 

The post will offer the ability to develop an extensive network of stakeholder relationships, both internally and externally to Welsh Government within the infrastructure sector. 

Closing Date:

16/06/2023, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

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

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.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Competencies

Setting Direction – Seeing the big picture

  • Keep up to date with a broad set of issues relating to the work of the Department.

Engaging People - Collaborating and Partnering

  • Proactively seek information, resources and support from others outside own immediate team in order to help achieve results.

Delivering Results - Managing a Quality Service

  • Explain clearly to customers what can be done.

Delivering Results – Delivering at Pace

  • Take ownership of problems in their own area of responsibility.

Job Specific Criteria 

  • Strong organisational skills with an ability to prioritise.
  • Ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
  • Personable and courteous when dealing with people.

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted and successful candidates invited to attend an interview.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
Nicci Hunter

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment 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 Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

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

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.