Vacancy -- Head of Research Programme Development

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, Skills and Natural Resources
Welsh Government Office for Science
Grade 7 - £53,440 - £63,900
£51,380
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Secondment
2 years
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:

The post holder has responsibility and ownership for the successful managing of strategic working partnerships with HE stakeholders, in particular research funding bodies, commercial and Higher Education Institutions across Wales.  Additionally, they will also have responsibility and ownership for providing operational, technical and strategic advice and assistance to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales for the development of Welsh initiatives to seek European Commission and UK Research Council (RCUK) funding;

The post holder will have:

  • Responsibility for the future development and leadership of programmes, including next phases of Sêr Cymru;
  • Responsibility for:
    • Analysing a significant volume of scientific and technical data and to present the results to senior colleagues in a clear, concise and timely way to inform strategic research discussions;
    • Writing of relevant technical reports and Ministerial papers;
  • Responsibility for marketing, publicity and events around the programmes;
  • Responsibility for health sector engagement and provision of specialist technical advice and analysis in respect to the health sector for the Welsh Government Office for Science; and
  • Accountable to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales, the post holder will work both independently and in a team environment, ensuring harmonization of all activities associated with relevant research initiatives.

Key tasks:

  • Responsibility for providing both operational and strategic advice and assistance to the Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales (CSA), Ministers and Head of Science Division for the development of Welsh initiatives to seek greater UKRI funding;
  • Ownership and responsibility for the development and communication of strategies and programmes to support Wales’ science and innovation initiatives, in particular those relating to European Commission and UKRI funding agencies;
  • Responsibility and ownership for the effective development and successful delivery of Welsh initiatives, seeking and obtaining grant funding and ensuring value for money;
  • Manage and facilitate enhanced stakeholder relationships with both internal and external partners, including with other relevant Welsh Government policy leads;
  • To undertake an advisory role in relation to administrative and policy issues for external research partners and funders;
  • Responsibility for ensuring Welsh interests are promoted and taken in to account by the UK Government, UKRI and other research agencies by influencing, agreeing and promoting priority Government needs and working with senior external stakeholders and Ministers to promote a more coherent approach to research;
  • Responsibility for advising the CSA on how best to grow and facilitate scientific excellence throughout Wales and facilitate greater success in bringing investment into Wales;
  • Responsibility for establishing and maintaining academic sector links;
  • Responsibility for representing the Welsh Government Office for Science on internal and external working groups;
  • Ownership and responsibility for analysing a significant volume of scientific and technical research portfolio data, and interpreting the results to create and present reports on relevant issues to senior colleagues in a clear, concise and timely way to inform strategic research discussions;
  • Responsibility for data gathering, marketing, publicity and events surrounding own work areas; and
  • Responsibility for the briefing and writing of relevant technical reports and Ministerial papers.

Development opportunities:

The post holder will be expected to work with autonomy and with minimal supervision.  They will have considerable discretion and have responsibility for the achievement of defined objectives and for identifying issues which have political or policy implications, and taking work forward appropriately.  As a direct result of the high profile associated with all of these work areas, the post holder will also have significant influence on the organisation’s reputation with internal and external stakeholders.

Closing Date:

02/11/2021, 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;

Making effective decisions

  • Draw together and present reasonable conclusions from a wide range of incomplete and complex evidence and data – able to act or decide even when details are not clear.

Leading and Communicating

  • Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals.

Managing a quality service 

  • Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirement in delivery and build diversity and equality considerations into plans.

Collaborating and Partnering

  • Works in and alongside different areas of the science base, e.g. academia, industry, government departments and agencies, and other international organisations.

Job Specific Criteria;

1. Qualified to PhD level in an environmental or life science / health related scientific discipline, with significant experience of providing scientific advice and undertaking scientific analysis.

2. Proven track record of successful academic and public sector engagement and partnership working.

3. Experience of successfully accessing funding at UK, European, or international levels, including proposal development and costings, scientific writing and project management.

Assessment Process

The application will be assessed in two stages:

1)       Sift Stage

An initial sift will be carried out against the job specific questions.  Candidates who are successful at this stage will then be evaluated against the required competencies.

2)       Interview

Candidates who have passed the sift stage will be invited to participate in an interview (remote video session with Interview Panel).  The interview will include a technical presentation, the title of which will be issued along with the invitation to 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.
Chris Hale - chris.hale@gov.wales - 07870 507262

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.