Vacancy -- Research Infrastructure Lead

The Research and Development Division (RDD) is a team of 22 people within the Welsh Government’s Department of Health Policy (DHP). RDD’s role is to develop and implement the policies and priorities for health and social care research and development in Wales to ensure that research and development activity meets the needs of the Welsh Government’s agenda.

The post holder will report to the Head of Programmes (G6), and is responsible for managing and implementing the Research Development Infrastructure workstream. This includes:

• Grant management of the Health and Care Research Wales Research Centres and Units,  Infrastructure Support Groups (ISGs) and Trials Units;
• Management of  the infrastructure  budget (currently £9m per annum); and
• Working with RDD and Health and Care Research Wales colleagues to set policy for infrastructure direction and development

 

The post holder manages a team currently consisting of 1 SEO and 1 HEO.  The post holder is expected to cover a wide breadth of infrastructure work and is expected to provide research, policy and practical advice/support to the Head of Programmes, external stakeholders and Welsh Government policy leads.

Management

• Provide leadership and management for the Health and Care Research Wales Research Development Infrastructure, creating relevant operational and performance management plans and monitoring and taking responsibility for the delivery of agreed objectives.

• Provide direct line management to 1 SEO, ensuring effective performance through support and supervision, addressing issues of poor performance, and ensuring the provision of adequate personal development opportunities.
• Provide corporate support to the Research Development Division Head of Programmes and Senior Management Team

 

Project leadership

• Lead on the contract management of key infrastructure groups, having strategic input into plans around these issues.
• Engage with UK partners as required to ensure that the Health and Care  Research Wales Infrastructure is able to participate fully in opportunities offered by UK initiatives.
• Contribute to strategic and operational plans within Research and Development Division, and to strategic developments in Wales and the UK.

Policy

• Lead on Research infrastructure policy development and implementation and monitor the performance of the Research Development Infrastructure.
• Develop  policy of other ad-hoc health and social care R&D related funding initiatives, as required

 

Advisory

• Liaise with key external bodies to ensure successful implementation of relevant R&D programmes in Wales, including, where relevant, NHS, local government, UK government departments, higher education, voluntary organisations and industry and negotiate collaborative initiatives across stakeholders.
• Provide timely and high quality advice and analysis to Ministers and officials on R&D to inform policy development.
• Represent the Welsh Government at external meetings, and present at and/or attend key events

 

Administration of Regulations

• Provide advice & support to team members and wider R&D community in Wales on R&D related matters.

 

Finance

• Manage the Research Infrastructure budget (currently £9m) effectively, giving strategic advice that balances spend against commitment and maximises the use of resources.
• Ensure appropriate budget management controls and reporting processes are in place for to ensure good practice and support the appropriate management of  the infrastructure budget.   

 

The post provides an opportunity to be responsible for leading and managing a high level Wales-wide initiative with strong potential for patient and public benefit across a range of disease areas. There is strong potential for gaining experience of building effective collaborations and developing strong partnership working both within Wales and across the UK.

07/12/2018, 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.