Vacancy -- Graphic Designer
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
Purpose of Post:
To deliver creative design solutions and prepare finished artwork for a wide variety of materials including printed publications, events, campaigns, branding, exhibitions and digital channels.
The role demands a high degree of graphic design ability, to be able to think creatively, propose workable design solutions and execute high quality accurate artwork.
The post holder will need to have confidence in working to demanding timescales and managing more than one project at a time. Be able to work individually and/or as part of a project driven team of designers, typesetters, photographers, illustrators, senior managers, policy officials, web developers, marketing specialists and external contractors.
The post holder will also need to have up-to-date knowledge of current design industry software applications and processes.
Key tasks:
- Integrate typographic, photographic, illustrative and graphic elements to design artwork for print and digital channels.
- Conceptualise ideas and propose workable solutions.
- Work directly with clients to evaluate project requirements and make recommendations on what is achievable and deliverable.
- Understand and accurately apply the Welsh Government brand identity and associated brand marks.
- Provide advice to policy officials on Welsh Government branding.
- Provide advice to policy officials on Welsh Government accessibility guidance in respect of language, colour, fonts and images, Screen Reader technologies, Easy Read.
- Work as part of a project driven team.
- Undertake quality control - reviewing proofs.
- Update production databases.
- Prioritise own work.
- Regularly archive work.
- Modify photographic images.
- Understand Welsh Government aims and objectives, priorities and sensitivities.
- Be aware of IT developments in software, particularly the Adobe Creative Suite.
- Be aware of developments in the wider design community.
Development opportunities:
Closing Date:
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
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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.
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
Seeing the Big Picture
- Focus on the overall goal and intent of what they are trying to achieve, not just the task.
Making Effective Decisions
- Speak with the relevant people in order to obtain the most accurate information and get advice when unsure of how to proceed.
Leading and Communicating
- Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others.
Delivering Value for Money
- Understand that all actions have a cost and choose the most effective way to do something in a resource efficient way.
Job Specific Criteria
- Expert user of applications within Adobe Creative Suite (Specifically InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat).
- Expert in the production of accurate and high quality artwork.
- Degree or equivalent in Graphic Design or a minimum of two years graphic design experience in a graphic design focused professional capacity – evidenced by a strong portfolio of work attributable to you.
Assessment Process
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.
There will be two stages to the application process. The first stage will be your application form. Applications will undergo an initial sift and those applicants that successfully pass this first stage will be contacted to submit a portfolio of work attributable to them. The portfolio will be submitted either by email or by a link to a web page. Details of where to send this information will be provided at a later date. Portfolios should not be submitted at the same time as your initial application.
Stage two will be a sift of your portfolio.
Those applicants that successfully pass stage two will be invited to interview.
The interview will also consist of two elements, a short presentation based on your portfolio followed by a panel interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
How to apply
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 SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or 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 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
This vacancy is closed to applications.