Vacancy -- Senior Museums Development Advisor

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

Economy, Treasury and Constitution Group
Museums
SEO - £41,700 - £49,370
£41,700
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

This post will ensure that Welsh Government fulfils its statutory duties and its role of museum sector development body.  The Senior Museums Adviser leads on evaluating and monitoring status and quality of provision and promoting the improvement of local museum services through policy development and programme of strategic support. 

 The post will:

  • Lead on the development of the museum sector in Wales, supporting and advising museums and sector organisations in reaching and maintaining appropriate and effective standards.
  • Lead on the development and management of strategic projects (both capital and revenue) to improve local Welsh museum services in line with delivering key Programme for Government commitments
  • Provide sector specific input into the sponsorship of Amgueddfa Cymru
  • Lead on maintaining strategic relationships with key stakeholders across the UK and beyond
  • Develop and lead work relating to providing advice and support to museums, including funding programmes that deliver improvements for users and collections
  • Oversee management of UK-wide cultural property schemes and legislation, for which we have statutory obligations; and
  • Act as Deputy Team Lead, deputising as required

The Programme for Government contains two key and high profile commitments for the local museum sector, and further commitments for Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales. This post will lead on ensuring that Welsh Government funding, projects and programmes deliver effectively against them: 

  • Ensure the history and culture of our Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities are properly represented by investing further in our cultural sector and museum network.
  • Invest in our theatres and museums, including committing to Theatr Clwyd, establishing the Football Museum and the National Contemporary Art Gallery

Key tasks:

The Senior Advisor and Deputy Head of Team will:

  • Lead on the development of the museum sector in Wales and support museums and sector organisations in reaching and maintaining the industry standard.
  • Policy and strategy lead for museums, ensuring alignment with Welsh Government priorities and activities, seeking opportunities to collaborate across Government and work differently wherever possible.
  • Lead on the development and management of strategic projects to improve local museum services in Wales and develop work relating to providing advice and support to museums.
  • Support the professional leads in providing professional advice to museums, and as required collections and workforce officers
  • Develop and maintain relationships with museum sector organisations across Wales and the UK, contributing to wider sector policy development and developing or ensuring inclusion in programmes that could benefit Welsh Museums.
  • Provide professional and sector expertise in supporting the sponsorship of the Amgueddfa Cymru
  • Take forward agreed Programme for Government and Cooperation Agreement projects, Culture Division Annual Business Plan or other priorities, either directly or by commissioning and project managing.
  • Lead and administer programme funding, overseeing monitoring, reporting and payments. Current priority projects are expected to include: the Football Museum for Wales and activities to invest in museums and theatres and to improve access, participation and engagement, particularly for people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities and input to and implementation of the Culture Strategy.
  • Act as budget manager for agreed budgets, coordinating grant schemes, creating and monitoring processes and relationships with stakeholders, having oversight of scheme budgets and report back accordingly to line manager, and Division Finance Board. Work closely with, and act as first point of contact to Division Business Service finance team to update and contribute towards wider divisional budgets.
  • Coordinate briefing, communications, correspondence and FOI requests, overseeing visits and corporate reporting, including particularly BIRT, PfG and Cooperation Agreement, coordination of establishment and updating all project documentation, escalating risks and issues – this is likely to include setting up new or modifying existing reporting mechanisms
  • Act as a leader across Museums, Collections and Workforce portfolio, deputising for the G7 Head of Museums and Collections or senior colleagues as required
  • Line manage 2 HEOs museum professional specialists and act as reporting manager for EO culture officer
  • Personal and professional development and corporate contribution

Development opportunities:

The post-holder will develop relationships with organisations at a senior level and gain an understanding of Welsh Government policies and procedures in relation to grants and finance and in providing briefings and advice to the Minister.

Culture Division will offer the post-holder the opportunity to undertake training activities to maintain professional qualifications and to develop specific skills.

Closing Date:

19/06/2023, 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.

Desirable
Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can hold simple work-related conversations
Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
Can write simple work-related correspondence

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 - Seek to understand how the services, activities and strategies in the area work together to create value for the customer/end user.

Engaging People – Leading and Communicating - Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner with all stakeholders and stand ground when needed.

Delivering Results – Managing a Quality Service - Develop, implement, maintain and review systems and service standards to ensure professional excellence and expertise and value for money

Delivering Results – Delivering at Pace - Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance.

Job Specific Criteria

  1. Experience and knowledge of the museum, heritage or related cultural sectors (including a museums qualification and/or five years experience in the sector)
  2. Experience of working with external partners and of developing positive and productive relationships
  3. Ability to respond quickly to situations as they arise and provide the Minister and Senior Colleagues with rapid advice and information

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted, successful candidates will then be invited to an interview where they will be asked to do a presentation.

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.
Applications will be sifted, successful candidates will then be invited to an interview where they will be asked to do a presentation.
Victoria Rogers - Culture@gov.wales

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.