Vacancy -- Building Regulations Technical Officer

'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.

This post is one of three specialist posts within the small Building Regulations team, which provide detailed technical advice and support on building regulations.  The team is part of the larger Planning Directorate and works extensively with external partners, including local authorities and approved inspectors who are responsible for delivery at the local level.

The post will work in a team dealing with high profile and fast moving issues around decarbonisation of buildings and the implications of the Grenfell fire tragedy, which will be putting the building regulations and the building control system which administers them under the microscope. 

In addition to developing specific expertise on agreed topic areas, the post will be expected to have a working knowledge of the Building Act 1984, the Building Regulations 2010 and related legislation and standards.  Post responsibilities will include:

Assisting ministers in discharging functions under the Building Act 1984. To be responsible for providing technical advice on specific topics within the building regulations legislation and related guidance.

Assisting in the development of technical aspects of Building Regulations and related construction legislation.

To be responsible for allocated areas within the building regulations and statutory guidance.

To represent Welsh Government in engagement with other administrations and trade bodies and other technical organisations.

• In conjunction with the existing Technical officer and Building Regulations Technical Manager to have policy responsibility for technical aspects of construction legislation (UK, WG and EU). Liaison and briefing of legal advisors and other departments, development and management of specific legislation programmes in conjunction with National Assembly and Welsh Government lawyers

• Policy responsibility for the management and development of specific technical areas of the building regulations together with related advice and support to the  Building Regulations Advisory Committee for Wales and liaison with other administrations over common areas of interest

• To support the Building Regulations Legislation Manager to maintain and develop technical and operational aspects of the Building Control system dealing with approval/inspection, third party certification regimes and enforcement.

• Responsibility for content of technical guidance and technical aspects of the WG website (Building Regulations and related sustainability aspects)

• Responsibility for liaison with standards authorities (BSI) over specified topics. Representation of WG within standards review/development groups and activities.

• Responsibility for technical content of policy reviews, assistance in drafting specialist tender documentation, tender analysis and appointments. Technical oversight of working groups and consultation process through to management of changes to secondary legislation

• To provide policy advice, briefing and speeches for senior officials and Ministers as appropriate. Supporting ministers at external events.

The post provides the opportunity to help shape a developing policy area, both around decarbonisation of buildings and the implications of changes post Grenfell.

The post will provide an opportunity to develop legislative experience, working with a range of internal and external partners, including Ministers, other politicians, stakeholders across a number of different Welsh Government work areas.  There will be an opportunity to work with other devolved administrations and UK Government Departments, local authorities, business, professional bodies, third sector groups and communities to develop and promote positive processes. 

19/11/2018, 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.