Vacancy -- Chair - Careers Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG) Trading as Careers Wales

Vacancy details

Careers Choices Dewis Gyrfa (CCDG) Trading as Careers Wales
CCDG meetings, which are held quarterly, currently are being held virtually, when face to face meetings can resume meetings will take place at venues throughout Wales and the expectation is that Board members will engage with their duties on a Pan Wales basis. As part of a reasonable adjustment, consideration will be given to requests for members wishing to continue contributing remotely.

The post is remunerated at £337 per day for attendance at meetings or other agreed activities relating to the work of Careers Wales.  The remuneration will be paid up to a maximum commitment of 40 days per year.  Payment will be made via the Careers Wales payroll system.

Members are regarded as office holders for tax and National Insurance purposes.  Fees payable will, as a result, be chargeable to income tax and subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions.  PAYE deductions will be made via the Careers Wales payroll system and the net fee paid to the office holder.  Fees are not subject to VAT. 

Travel and subsistence expenses you incur in attending CCDG meetings or on visits on behalf of CCDG will be reimbursed by CCDG itself at the rate currently applying to members of Government Committees.  Claims for reimbursement should be made to the CCDG Secretariat. Childcare and other dependent expenses may be paid, on production of receipts, for additional costs incurred as a direct consequence of duties performed in the capacity of your work for CCDG.

40
year

Function of body

Career Choices Dewis Gyrfa Ltd (CCDG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Welsh Government which was formed on 1 April 2013. Trading as Gyrfa Cymru Careers Wales, they deliver a ‘blended’ service that integrates the use of digital technologies alongside more traditional, face-to-face channels of delivery. They provide an all age, impartial, bilingual, careers information, guidance and coaching service for Wales.

 

Careers Wales support customers to become more effective at planning and managing their careers, recognising that career management no longer consists of a one-off occupational choice, but rather a series of lifelong career transitions. Through improving career management skills and competencies, customers are able to make these transitions more smoothly, enjoy a higher level of career satisfaction and play a more active part in the economy.

 

April 2021 Careers Wales launched their five year Vision, ‘Brighter Futures’. Brighter Futures, has the ambition of creating a brighter future for all young people and adults in Wales. To achieve this ambition Careers Wales has developed four strategic goals:

  • To provide a bilingual, inclusive, impartial career guidance and coaching service for the people of Wales.

  • To develop its work with employers, training providers and entrepreneurs to understand their skills requirements and opportunities for young people and adults.

  • To support the delivery of Curriculum for Wales and contribute to the achievement of its four purposes for learners.

  • To develop a skilled, engaged and agile Careers Wales workforce and enable the delivery of high-performing, customer-centred services.

 

Their work supporting children and young people in education is funded through their core Careers Wales grant.  Careers Wales currently receives a budget of £18.8m core grant funding from the Welsh Government. Their work supporting those no longer in education is delivered through their Working Wales Services, this work is funded separately.

Role description

The Chair is accountable to the Minister for Economy and may also be held to account by the Senedd. The Chair is responsible for ensuring the Board’s policies and actions support the Minister’s wider strategic policies, and the Company’s affairs are conducted with probity.

The Chair has particular leadership responsibilities for:

  • Formulating the Board’s strategies.
  • Demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times.
  • Ensuring the Board reaches decisions, takes proper account of statutory and financial management requirements and all relevant guidance including guidance provided by Welsh Ministers.
  • Promoting the economic, efficient and effective use of staff and other resources.
  • Ensuring high standards of regularity, propriety and governance.
  • Representing the views of the Board to the public.


The Chair must also:

  • Ensure all Board members are briefed fully on the terms of their appointment and on their duties, rights and responsibilities.
  • Ensure Board members receive appropriate training, including on the financial management and reporting requirements of public sector bodies and on the differences which might exist between private and public sector practice.
  • Assess the performance of individual Board members in accordance with the arrangements agreed with the partnership team.
  • Ensure a Code of Conduct for Board members is in place.

Welsh language skills

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.
Desirable
Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can write simple work-related correspondence
Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
Can hold simple work-related conversations

Person specification

CCDG is seeking a new chair for the Board with a range of expertise, across a broad range of economic sectors, professions and social groups. 

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 

  • A proven track record of achievement in the private / public / community / voluntary sector, demonstrating an ability to make sound and strategic judgements.
  • Understanding of the dynamic inter-relationship between government policies and delivery of careers provision at grassroots level.
  • Knowledge and understanding of learning and work issues at community, local and regional or national levels.
  • A sound understanding of finance and corporate governance.
  • A proven track record in building relationships with a range of stakeholders and excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly and succinctly explain complex issues, while demonstrating respect for the views of others.
  • Strong interpersonal, influencing and negotiating skills, with an ability to constructively challenge and make sound judgements in strategic decision making.
  • A demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the principles of human rights, equality and promoting the use of the Welsh language.

Interview dates

15 November 2021
16 November 2021

Closing date

20/09/2021, 16:00

Additional information

For further information regarding the selection process, please contact:

 

Public Appointments Team, Public Bodies Unit

Email: publicappointments@gov.wales

 

For further information regarding the role of the CCDG Board and the role of Chair please contact Sam Evans at: sam.evans@gov.wales

 

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales.

 

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/publicappointments

How to apply

To apply for this role, click on the ‘Apply’ button below. 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 submit two supporting documents. The first, a document outlining how your knowledge, skills and experiences meet the criteria for the role as outlined in the information for candidates.  This document should be no more than 2 sides of A4.  Your application may be rejected if you exceed this limit.  The second document is a full, up to date CV.  The two documents should be uploaded to the ‘Reasons for applying’ section of the online application form.

In your application, you will also be asked to provide details of any activities which have helped you to develop skills that would be useful in a public appointment role, and list the organisations for which you undertook these activities.  We also need to know about any political activity that you’ve undertaken over the last 5 years. 

It is recommended that you register for an account and access the application form as soon as possible so that you see how the application form is structured, before starting to prepare your evidence.  You don’t have to complete the application form all in one go.  You can save your responses, and log in and out as required, until you’re ready to submit – just follow the guidance in the application form.

If you’d like to apply for this opportunity 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.

If you need any further assistance in applying for this role, please contact the Welsh Government’s Public Appointments Team on  PublicAppointments@gov.wales.

For further information about Public Appointments in Wales, please visit www.gov.wales/publicappointments

Commissioner for Public Appointments logo

This vacancy is closed to applications.