Vacancy -- Appointment of Commissioners - National Infrastructure Commission for Wales - English Application

Purpose

The Welsh Government has established a National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICfW) to support independent, better informed advice on a longer-term strategy of infrastructure investment, which enshrines the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Governance and remit

The NICfW has been established as non-statutory, advisory body to provide advice and recommendations to the Welsh Ministers on the economic and environmental infrastructure needs of Wales over 5-30 years.

The Commission is remitted to focus on economic and environmental needs, but should also consider the interactions of these needs with ‘social infrastructure’, such as schools, hospitals and housing. However, the NICfW is not expected to consider and advise on social infrastructure needs in detail.

The Welsh Government will set out through an annual remit letter the areas on which it would like the NICfW to focus, as well as the available budget. This letter will be sent to the Chair of the commission before the start of each financial year.

The advice provided by the NICfW will be strategic and forward looking in nature. Advice will not be provided on existing or upcoming infrastructure schemes.

Within its advice, the NICfW must reflect the goals and principles of the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015. This includes:

• The Welsh Government’s Well-Being Objectives
• The Five Ways of Working
• The Sustainable Development Principle

The NICfW must also consider the obligations of Welsh Minister’s in respect of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, and other legislative obligations, when providing advice.

The detailed working arrangements of the NICfW will be agreed between the Welsh Government and the appointed Commissioners through a Constitution document. This constitution will be supported by annual remit letters, which will set out priority areas and the annual budget of the NICfW.

The NICfW is expected to produce and publish a ‘State of the Nation report’ every 3-5 years.  This report will take an impartial view at the current state of economic and environmental infrastructure across Wales.

The Commission will also be expected to produce an annual report on its activity for the previous year, and to produce any ad-hoc reports deemed necessary by the Welsh Government and / or the NICfW

The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the independence of the NICfW by:

• Formally responding to the State of the Nation report, and tabling the report, and the response, in the National Assembly for Wales.
• Tabling the reports of the NICfW in the National Assembly.
• Formally responding to recommendations of the NICfW and tabling this response in the National Assembly, including rationale for why recommendations have been endorsed or otherwise not accepted.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2015/2/pdfs/anaw_20150002_en.pdf

The Commissioners of the NICfW will have a unique opportunity to look at Wales’ long-term economic and environment infrastructure needs, shaping future infrastructure networks by having a strong influence on recommendations to the Welsh Government on strategic linkages, dependencies and priorities, including the relationships with social infrastructure such as housing. Commissioners will help finesse the NICfW’s role and build consensus with industry and other stakeholders.

We are looking to recruit up to 11 Commissioners from a range of backgrounds.

Commissioners will be leaders in their field, with senior level experience in a specific infrastructure sector or a related field.

The Commissioners will be responsible for:

• providing expert, impartial advice to the Welsh Government on infrastructure;

• bringing specific skills or experience from particular sectors to NICfW;

• engaging with stakeholders including government, industry, interest groups and the public to promote NICfW and gather a wide range of views on future infrastructure;

• occasional media engagements. 

The Welsh Government acknowledges the importance of developing and growing bilingual capabilities in public appointments in Wales, and welcomes applications from candidates who demonstrate their capability to work in both English and Welsh.  The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the recruiting body of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

To be considered, you must be able to demonstrate that you have the qualities, skills and experience to meet all the essential criteria for appointment.

Essential Criteria

Capabilities

• ability to provide robust, independent advice to the Welsh Government;

• ability to process complex information and consider the long-term development of Wales;

• communicate complex recommendations clearly;

• understanding of the Welsh Government’s infrastructure objectives, its wider policy, delivery and finance framework, including the duties and commitments under the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and the devolution settlement;

• at least two of the Commissioners are expected to be a fluent Welsh speakers and to represent NICfW in public and with the media through the medium of Welsh. 

Experience

• a leader in their field, with senior level experience in a specific economic or environment infrastructure sector (such as energy, transport, waste, flood, digital communications) or a related field (such as economics, planning, regulation, project/infrastructure finance, design, engineering, systems architecture and analysis, technology and innovation);

• track record of communicating and influencing at senior levels;

• experience of representing organisations in public and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.

04/03/2018, 23:55

The Commission will comprise of 12 people: the Chair and 11 Commissioners – for 3 positions within the Commission Welsh language skills are essential but are not required for the other 9 positions.

 

 

To make an application please visit the Welsh Government public appointment website here https://cymru-wales.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-3/brand-2/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/7/adv/. 

To apply for this role, click on the Commissioners for National Infrastructure for Wales Commission vacancy and click on ‘Apply’ at the bottom left hand corner. The first time you apply for a post, you will need to complete a registration form for the Welsh Government’s online application system.  You will only need to register once, and you will be able to keep yourself updated on the progress of your application, and any other applications you make, via your registered account. 

Once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to access the application form.  To apply you will need to upload a personal statement and CV to the ‘Reasons for applying’ section of the online application form.