Vacancy -- Welsh Government Fixed Term and Secondment Opportunities Higher Executive Officers Recruitment Campaign

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

Welsh Government
HEO - £32,460 - £39,690
£30,600
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Fixed Term Appointment and Secondment
Up to two 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.  

Currently there are Welsh Government Offices in Aberystwyth, Bedwas, Caernarfon, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Llandrindod Wells, Llandudno Junction, Merthyr Tydfil, Newtown and Swansea.  Successful candidates will be asked to express a location preference during the appointment stage, where multiple locations may be possible for the role.

We are supportive of flexible working and tailoring working patterns to individual circumstances where business need can accommodate. Depending upon the nature of the role, it may be possible for successful candidates to agree to work some of their working hours from home through an informal arrangement with their line manager.

Please be aware that all roles recruited to in this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

TBC

Details of Opportunity

The Welsh Government works by the values set out in the Civil Service Code: integrity, objectivity, honesty and impartiality. In addition we have our own values and expectations which encapsulate our 'Welsh way' of working. These also reflect the ambitions set out in the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Our Higher Executive Officers provide a key role in the Welsh Government and are expected to take responsibility for specific areas of work, for managing teams and their workloads, and for delegating tasks. HEOs contribute to the thinking and decision-making which takes place in policy development, strategy and business planning and in doing so will work closely with senior managers. They may also have responsibilities for internal and external stakeholder management and liaison.

Currently, Welsh Government have a broad range of priority roles available which require skills, experience and knowledge in line with the HEO Grade Description and Behaviours listed below. The roles appointed to via this scheme will be in areas such as policy development and delivery, project management and operational delivery. There may also be roles supporting a range of professions across Welsh Government, such as the Legal Services, Digital Data and Technology, or Communications professions.

Grade Description

What the organisation will expect from you in a HEO role

  • Ability to manage own and others work and prioritise to ensure that objectives are met to time and to standard, using own initiative and decision making, managing risks as appropriate.
  • The ability to solve problems and make operational/policy decisions and/or recommendations by choosing between a number of options which may involve researching, organising and analysing facts and data.

 

What your team will expect

  • Work independently on day-to-day issues which may include providing advice to more senior grades and supporting policy, digital, legislation or operational development work; whilst being the lead official to engage with a wide-range of stakeholders both internally and externally.
  • Line management of individuals or a team. Management responsibilities may include supporting team members on more difficult cases, managing work allocation and prioritisation. Responsibility for performance management, coaching, mentoring and development of staff from all backgrounds to ensure they are able reach their full potential; making sure that any development opportunities are accessible and inclusive for all. You are proactive in exploring your own developmental needs and take action when required.

What key stakeholders will expect

  • Provide sound judgement with the ability to interpret information where issues are complex or conflicting with the ability to weigh up a number of factors to produce constructive ideas and solutions.
  • Required to communicate information, to provide advice to senior colleagues on the effects of policy or operational changes and influence outcomes.
  • Ability to grow strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders, effectively collaborating to share information, resources and support

Development opportunities:

This is a great opportunity to make an impact by bringing your valuable and unique lived experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to the Welsh Government.

You will be able to develop your capabilities by being involved in a wide range of critical work (such as the COVID-19 response and EU transition) and by working with a wide range of partners e.g. local authorities, private companies and third sector organisations.

You will also be able to develop your understanding of the political landscape and the role that Ministers play in setting the agenda for your business area.

Closing Date:

02/03/2021, 12:00

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

The Welsh Government has adopted the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best.

We guarantee to interview any disabled person who meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence, at each stage of the assessment process before interview, which demonstrates you generally meet the job description requirements. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people.

If you have an impairment or health condition, if you are neurodivergent or use British Sign Language and need to discuss reasonable adjustments for any part of this recruitment process, or wish to discuss how we will put in place any adjustments if you were to be successful, please email externalrecruitment@gov.wales as soon as possible and a member of the team will contact you to discuss requirements and any questions you may have.

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 some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can hold a basic conversation in Welsh
Can understand parts of a basic conversation
Can write basic messages on everyday topics

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.

Behaviours

1)  Leadership - Ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and time-frames.
2) Making Effective Decisions - Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.
3) Delivering at Pace – Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance.
4) Developing Self and Others -   Promote inclusiveness by respecting different personal needs in the team and use these to develop others.
5) Communicating and Influencing – Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact.
6) Working Together -Collaborate with stakeholders to share information, resources and support.

Assessment Process

There are four stages to the Assessment Process:

1. Application Form

When completing the Application Form for this opportunity you will be asked to provide evidence, in the form of real examples, of your skills, experience and ability in the six HEO Behaviours listed above. This is the most important part of your Application Form and will be assessed by a recruitment panel at the Sift Stage.

2. Online Test

You will be invited to complete an Online Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass this, you will then be invited to complete an Online Civil Service Judgement Test.

Only those who successfully pass both tests will progress to the Sift Stage.

If you fail either test, or fail to complete the online tests by the deadline given, unfortunately your application will not progress to the next stage. You will be notified of this outcome.

Please note, this part of the Assessment (the Online Civil Service Verbal Test and the Online Civil Service Judgement Test) will be in English only.

3. Sift Stage

A two stage sift process will be conducted for candidates who have passed the Online Tests.

Sift Stage 1.
The evidence you provide in your Application Form for the first two HEO Behaviours listed above (i.e. Leadership and Making Effective Decisions) will be assessed by a recruitment panel. If you are successful at this stage, your application will progress to Sift Stage 2.

Sift Stage 2.
A recruitment panel will assess the remaining four HEO Behaviours you have evidenced in your Application Form. If you are successful at this stage, you will be invited to attend an Online Interview using Microsoft Teams.

If you fail either Sift Stage 1 or Sift Stage 2, unfortunately your application will not progress to Interview. You will be notified of this outcome.

4. Online Interview
The Online Interview will take place over Microsoft Teams and involve a blend of Behaviour and Strength based questions.
The Behaviour questions will explore in detail what you are capable of. The Strengths questions will explore what you enjoy and your motivations relevant to the grade requirements.
The Behaviours assessed at interview will be the same as those you have been asked to evidence in your Application Form i.e. Leadership, Making Effective Decisions, Delivering at Pace, Developing Self and Others, Communicating and Influencing and Working Together.
The Strengths tested during the interview will be Confident, Explainer, Authentic, Relationship Builder. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for these Strengths questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
Final Outcome
Following the interview, outcomes will be issued.

Matching
If you are successful, the information you have provided in your Application Form will be used to help inform which post you will be matched to.
We be considering your skills and abilities alongside the requirements of the roles available and business priorities.
We cannot guarantee you will be offered a particular post.

Reasonable Adjustments
When we contact candidates to confirm that they have been successful at interview we will ask whether they have any reasonable adjustments they would like us to consider when matching them to a post. This will help us ensure that each individual is matched into a suitable role.

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.

• Appointments through this campaign will be on a Fixed Term Appointment basis, however, if you are already employed, a secondment from your existing employer can be considered.
• A Secondee is required to remain employed by their current employer for the entire secondment period, retain their terms and conditions (as specified in the Employment Contract with their employer) and remain on their employers Pay Roll. The employer will then invoice the Welsh Government for the provision of the Secondee's Services on a quarterly arrears basis for actual salary (inc. Pension, NI etc.).
• We anticipate that the majority of candidates who seek to secure a secondment through this opportunity will move laterally, as such they would be able to remain on the same pay they receive from their employer. It is only in exceptional cases, e.g. where a secondment opportunity would equate to a temporary promotion in terms of pay, that there may be flexibility. In this situation Welsh Government may be prepared for the Secondee to be paid at the minimum of the Pay Band for the Grade being appointed to, however, the Secondee’s employer would need to be in agreement with the terms of the appointment and the temporary increase in their employees pay for the period of the secondment.

Please ensure you regularly check your registered email/s to ensure you are aware when you have been contacted regarding assessment process.

Please be aware that closing dates/deadlines given throughout this assessment process cannot be extended unless agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. 

The on-line tests are owned and administered by the Government Resourcing Services. As a non Wales based organisation, communications between GRS and candidates at this stage of the assessment process will be mainly in English.

Contact point for further information: ExternalRecruitment@gov.wales

ExternalRecruitment@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 ExternalRecruitment@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 first stage of the assessment process.

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 and guidance on this recruitment and assessment process, please see candidate guidance.

For further information on Civil Service Behaviours and Strengths and how they are used for recruitment in the Civil Service, please see Civil Service Success Profiles.

 

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.