Vacancy -- Head of Prosiect 2050

'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.

To lead the new Welsh Language Planning Unit (Prosiect 2050) to be established to drive forward the Cymraeg 2050 strategy and provide a greater focus on language planning within Welsh Government.

The role of the new Unit will be to:

• Plan, create and evaluate programmes to increase the use of Welsh in all aspects of life, informed by insights from the behavioural sciences.
• Provide professional advice to Welsh Government departments about their contribution to achieving the Cymraeg 2050 strategy.
•  Increase the Welsh Government’s capability to undertake effective language planning in line with the aims of Cymraeg 2050.
•  Work with local authorities to increase their strategic planning in the context of Cymraeg 2050.
• Lead a programme to deliver the Welsh Government’s Welsh Language Technology Action Plan.
• Lead on the implementation of relevant aspects of Cymraeg 2050.
• Ensure that the findings of relevant research is fully implemented into all aspects of the language planning programme
• The post holder will be expected to provide Ministers and senior officials with detailed information and evidence on language planning and promotional activities to assist them to take decisions with contribute to the Cymraeg 2050 targets.

 

• Co-ordinate the planning for the route to a million speakers, from early years, through Welsh-medium statutory education provision, post-compulsory education to Welsh for adults by working with Directors and CEOs across Wales.

• Develop new initiatives across a wide range of domains specifically aimed at achieving the Welsh Government's target of doubling the daily use of Welsh by 2050.
• Develop partnerships both internally and externally, to maximise the impact of activities undertaken to implement Cymraeg 2050.
• Develop language planning expertise within Prosiect 2050 in departments across Welsh Government and externally, with a specific focus on supporting the Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPs), and the language forums within Local Authorities. It is also expected that the post holder will advise Ministers on the Plans to attend the language forums as appropriate.
• Influence and support policy areas across the Welsh Government to contribute to: 
• the maintenance of Welsh-speaking communities;
• increased awareness of bilingualism amongst leaders in the public sector;
• the increased use and support for Welsh in digital technology;
• other aspects of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy as required.
    
• Lead on cross-Government work to ensure that policies in economic development, housing, planning, education, health, culture etc support the Cymraeg 2050 vision using behavioural insights to increase the use of Welsh across Ministerial portfolios.
• Be accountable to the Minister, senior officials and the Cymraeg 2050 Programme Board on the delivery of Cymraeg 2050;
• Direct responsibility for £10 million budget, and responsibility for influencing spend within other key areas whilst ensuring value for money.
• Present recommendations on allocation of budget to all Welsh Government language promotion activity, demonstrating spend against key strategic priorities of Cymraeg 2050
• Advise the the Minister on the ambitions and priorities of Prosiect 2050.
• Evaluate programmes and advise on new strategies/policies.
• Commission research on matters relating to the delivery of Cymraeg 2050 strategy.
• Lead and develop a team of around 25 staff within Prosiect 2050. 
• Manage contracts with an external panel to provide expert advice on language planning.
• Present at conferences and public events about the Welsh language and language planning in Wales and beyond.

This is an unique opportunity to lead a programme of change in a high profile policy area.  The post holder will be expected to create partnerships and work across organisational boundaries, working closely with leaders in all sectors.

16/03/2020, 16:00

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:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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)

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.