Vacancy -- Senior School Funding Policy Manager

'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 is a high profile post leading on a policy area that attracts huge political and public interest. The post provides a great opportunity to help shape the future of the education system and influence school funding policy by taking forward the recommendations from the CYPE Committee report into school funding and outcomes of a recent independent school funding review, undertaken by Luke Sibieta, commissioned as a result of the CYPE Committee’s recommendations.  The main objectives of the post are:

• Manage, advise on, and develop school funding policy in Wales.
• Take forward the recommendations of the CYPE committee report into school funding and the recommendations from the Review of School Spending in Wales.
• Lead on the development and implementation of regulations and guidance in relation to school funding policy for local authorities and schools.
• Provide advice to Ministers, policy colleagues and the department’s Finance team on school funding policy and any issues relating to school funding policy.
• Lead policy official for related policy areas including school charging and school uniform policies.

• Provide advice to Ministers on school funding policy and associated legislation.
• Lead on the work related to the recommendations from the CYPE committee’s school funding report including taking forward work in relation to the findings of the school funding review.
• Develop school funding policy including reviewing and amending legislation to support improved standards and attainment in schools and drafting related guidance if required.
• Provide advice and analysis to Ministers and senior officials on school funding to inform Spending Review negotiations.
• Oversee the work related to collation of school reserves and deficits data to support and advise on key funding policy areas.
• Work with a range of internal and external key stakeholders (e.g. local authorities, Welsh Local Government Association, regional consortia, unions, Welsh Government officials, statisticians and various finance teams) to develop school funding policy.
• Oversee and provide advice on school charging policy and school uniform policy.
• Be aware of emerging issues across Welsh Government which may impact on school funding and provide advice to officials and Ministers as appropriate.
• Be aware changes to UK Government legislation and provide policy advice as appropriate, engaging with legal services and other relevant departments.
• Establishment of a programme of evidenced based research to support policy decisions and ensure best outcomes and value for money.
• Lead and manage all briefing requests, submissions, Senedd questions, correspondence, media inquiries, and general queries in relation to the work above.
• Manage two members of staff (MB3).
• Provide policy advice on school funding policy areas

This is a great opportunity to make an impact by bringing your valuable knowledge, skills and experience to a government department. You will also be able to develop your capability and skill sets by being involved in a wide range of critical work, including taking forward Ministerial commitments.

24/08/2022, 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 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)

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.