Vacancy -- Deputy Director, Digital Learning

This post provides the opportunity to lead our approach to Digital Learning across Wales – to ensure our learners have the best possible learning experience through use of new technology and innovation, and for schools to have the digital platforms and capability they need to help learners.

The past year has seen the critical importance of digital platforms to support learning. Building on the work of the Digital Learning Division over the last few years, schools in Wales were able to swiftly deliver a smooth transition to distance and blended learning in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Digital Learning team also worked with others to deliver an ambitious programme to ensure digitally excluded learners had the equipment they needed to be able to participate in learning throughout the pandemic.

The successful candidate for this post will have a key leadership role in taking forward this agenda in the future. They will be expected to build on the work of the Hwb programme, and the learning from the pandemic, to ensure we are continuously improving and further developing Hwb as a leading edge, innovative, service for teachers and learning to support our national mission Education in Wales.

They will also be a part of an ambitious and exciting digital agenda in Wales, working with the Chief Digital Officers in Welsh Government, Local Government and the NHS, and the Centre for Digital Public Services, to deliver Ministerial ambitions set out in the Digital Strategy for Wales.

The post holder will therefore work with other colleagues within the Education and Public Service Group to ensure digital is at the forefront of our education mission, across professional learning, qualifications and the curriculum.

The post holder will have strategic responsibility for developing, and delivering on digital learning policy and will direct a number of high-level projects relating to Ministerial priorities which they will be expected to drive these forward to specification, within budget and on time. The post holder will also provide policy and professional advice to Ministers on best practice, future trends, investments and value for money within the rapidly changing digital learning agenda, aligning work to the wider digital landscape.

The Digital Learning Division is part of the Operations Directorate, within the Education and Public Services (EPS) Group.

The Division comprises 41 staff currently grouped in two branches with responsibility for a revenue budget of £4.4 million and a capital budget of £15 million in 2020-21 reflecting current delivery priorities. Budgets will vary year on year in line with current delivery priorities and the post holder will need to lead on optimising the Welsh Government’s investments in digital learning through collaboration and co-creation with stakeholders including suppliers. As such a high degree of commercial acumen, excellent engagement skills and a high degree of credibility with the sector are required.

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.

Welsh Government accepts the social definition of disability, in which it is recognised that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments or health conditions or who use British Sign Language. We are committed to removing barriers so that all (or potential new staff) can perform at their best. The Equality Act 2010 uses the medical definition of disability (“a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term impact on a person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities”).

We guarantee to interview anyone who is disabled whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide us with evidence in your application which demonstrates that you generally meet the level of competence for the role and any qualifications, skills or experience defined as essential. We are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people.

If you have an impairment or health condition, 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 support you if you were to be successful, please email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales as soon as possible and a member of the team will contact you to discuss your requirements and any questions you may have.

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.

Completed application form, an up to date CV, together with a personal statement of suitability for the post should be submitted by the closing date.  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 SCSrecruitment@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format or if you need 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 Senior Civil Service recruitment process within the Welsh Government, please see the SCS Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link). Further guidance on Preparing Your Personal Statement (link) is also available.

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)