Vacancy -- Regional Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Archaeology

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, Treasury and Constitution Group
Cadw
SEO - £41,700 - £49,370
£41,700
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Mid Wales, North Wales
TBC

Purpose of Post:

The Regional Inspector of Ancient Monuments and Archaeology is a specialist post responsible for providing a wide range of statutory duties relating to conserving, sustaining, protecting and promoting understanding of the historic environment of Wales across one of four regions in Wales (currently South-West, South-East, North-West and North-East & Borders). 

This post involves undertaking statutory duties and casework relating to designated (scheduled) monuments of all types and periods from prehistoric to 20th century, within a defined region of Wales. The duties include providing heritage management and planning advice, instigating and monitoring archaeological investigations, dealing with reports of damage, undertaking enforcement duties, representing Welsh Government (including at public inquiries) and consenting and monitoring of masonry and earthwork conservation projects. 

In addition to regional duties, as one of four regional Inspectors, the post holder will have Pan-Wales responsibility for defined strategic historic environment policy areas reflecting Programme for Government and Cadw priorities. These policy areas are assigned based on Cadw’s business plan priorities and the successful applicant’s areas of expertise and experience. 

This is a specialist post requiring formal archaeological and/or heritage management qualifications to degree level along with a substantial amount of practical experience. 

The post holder is required to provide advice in line with best practice and guidance and will ideally be a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (MCIfA), or capable of obtaining such membership within one year of taking up the post.

The post holder has line management responsibility for one or more Field Monument. Wardens and will be expected to provide broader leadership for historic environment focussed projects. The post holder will be required to represent Cadw on external thematic groups, across the sector and to develop partnerships with key external stakeholders. 

Please note that the role requires regular travel to sites not serviced by public transport. The post holder will therefore need to hold a full UK driving licence.The role requires visiting sites in remote locations (farmland and open countryside) only accessible by foot and the role may also necessitate inspection from access scaffold.

Health & safety equipment and training for accessing remote sites will be provided.

Key tasks:

  • To provide professional specialist advice, oversee and monitor scheduled monument consents and ancient monument grant applications applied to monuments of all types, dates and complexity.
  • To represent Cadw and provide specialist heritage management and historic environment advice at regional forums and other conservation focussed groups.
  • To act as the appointed government official and monitor work undertaken by one of the Welsh Archaeological Trusts under grant aid from Welsh Government.
  • To manage the work programme of Field Monument Wardens including providing advice and training on delivery of management advice and agreements.
  • To provide specialist professional advice on casework affecting scheduled monuments including statutory planning consultations.
  • To represent the Historic Environment Branch contributing to regional Monument Development Teams and Project Teams for historic monuments in Cadw’s care.
  • To assist with or undertake autonomously briefing for Ministers and/or senior officers on subject responsibilities, including verbal briefings or attendance at meetings or ministerial visits, and contribute written advice for cross-Cadw briefing commissions.
  • To manage contracts and programmes of work for major conservation projects undertaken by consultants and contractors at non-guardianship monuments.
  • To manage grants and contracts for specialist archaeological services and advice including excavation, remote sensing, finds analysis and conservation, and palaeo-environmental investigations.
  • To assess cases of unauthorised works or damage to scheduled monuments; overseeing preparation of damage reports and working with the relevant statutory authorities (Police and Rural Inspectorate) including giving evidence as an expert witness.
  • To inspect, assess and recommend sites within their region for designation (scheduling).
  • To oversee and undertake original research to enhance our understanding of Cadw guardianship sites and other scheduled monuments affected by projects or casework.
  • To represent Cadw and lead on policy areas relating to their areas of expertise.
  • To undertake any other reasonable duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade and competencies required of the post requested by line management.

Development opportunities:

The post is within Cadw’s archaeological Inspectorate team which comprises specialist archaeologists and heritage professionals. There will opportunities to participate in a range of internal and external training opportunities including CPD.

The post holder will have opportunities to lead and participate in projects related to monument conservation, management, interpretation and presentation both internally within Welsh Government and in collaboration with partners such as Local Authorities and National Parks.

Closing Date:

23/06/2023, 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.

Desirable
No skills
No skills
No skills
No skills

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 – be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own or team’s work.
  • Leading and Communicating – communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner with all stakeholders and stand ground when needed.
  • Managing a Quality Service – develop, implement, maintain and review systems and service standards to ensure professional excellence and expertise and value for money.
  • Collaborating and Partnering – establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes.

Job Specific Criteria 

  • A good degree in archaeology or a relevant postgraduate degree (eg heritage management, building conservation).
  • Demonstrable understanding and practical experience of the principles of conservation and management of historic assets.
  • Practical experience leading, specifying and working on archaeological and/or heritage management conservation projects operating at a level equivalent to Member level of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA).

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted and successful candidates invited to attend an 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.
Swarnim Srivastava-SharedServiceHelpdesk@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 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.