Vacancy -- Vice President - National Library of Wales

Vacancy details

National Library of Wales
There may be times when the Vice President is required to travel to meetings and events
The role of Vice President, is currently unremunerated.  Travel and other reasonable expenses that might be incurred in carrying out the role can be claimed from the Library.
18
year

Function of body

The National Library of Wales’ purpose is to make our diverse culture and heritage accessible to all to learn, research and enjoy. 

As a Welsh Government Sponsored Body, the Library will receive £12.8m in annual revenue funding from the Welsh Government in 2021-2022.  The Library is also a Royal Charter body and registered independent charity. Its management and operations are overseen by a Board of Trustees.  

The Library subscribes to the Welsh Government’s wider policies and priorities, including the Well Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Welsh Language Act 2010 and integrates its work into supporting of all of the seven well- being goals as well as the five governance elements of the Sustainable Development Principle. 

For further detail on the Library’s purpose, vision and objectives, please go to: https://www.library.wales/fileadmin/fileadmin/docs_gwefan/amdanom_ni/dogfennaeth_gorfforaethol/2017-2021_Strategic_Plan_FINAL.pdf

 

Role description

 

  • The Vice President will assist the President in leading the overall direction of the Board and take on the roles of the President if he/she is absent.
  • Chairing other Library Committees and/or in the absence of the appointed Chair.
  • Along with the President, act as a main point of contact between the Board and the Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip and Government officials.
  • Supporting the President as required in liaising with other officers and members of the Board, and with the Library’s senior executive team. The Vice President will also have an important role to play in scrutinising, challenging and supporting the executive to meet the Library’s aims, objectives and targets.
  • Participate in the corporate planning process, including agreeing annual budget plans for operational programmes and corporate activities;
  • Deputising for the President as required in representing the Library in its dealings with the Senedd and the Welsh Government.
  • Actively promoting the benefits of the diverse cultural heritage sector within Wales and further afield.
  • Have a clear vision as to how the Library can continue to contribute as a main deliverer of Government cultural heritage policy
  • Have an understanding of how the public sector in Wales functions.
  • Be actively engaged in encouraging board membership and the next generation of trustees.
  • Ensure the Library achieves value for money within a framework of best practice, regularity and property.
  • Act in a way that promotes highs standards of probity and public finance.
  • Be politically independent.
  • Have a clear understanding and commitment to Nolan’s “Seven Principles of Public Life”.

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
No skills
Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
Can hold simple work-related conversations

Person specification

Person Specification - Desirable   

We are seeking someone who: 

  • demonstrates an understanding, a commitment, and an enthusiasm for the Library’s work and for Wales’ cultural sector;
  • has an awareness of Welsh Government policies and strategies and of how they influence the work of the Library and the culture sector as a whole;
  • has extensive leadership skills and experience of driving change;
  • has a commitment to equality issues and to challenging discriminatory practices;
  • has a commitment to Nolan’s Seven Principles of Public Life https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life;
  • is able to communicate effectively with the Library’s audiences in both Welsh and English.

Person specification - Essential

  • Demonstrates a commitment to the values and the vision of the National Library of Wales, and an appreciation of its role and purpose as a national institution in Wales, including the cultural, learning, health and well-being, economic and socio-political contexts in which it operates; and an understanding of its obligations under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015;
  • can evidence strong interpersonal, communication and stakeholder management skills, including ambassadorial skills;
  • committed to increasing diversity and promoting equality, identifying relevant experience to develop an inclusive and diverse Board;
  • Has experience of developing strategic partnerships, and of outreach and engagement activity who will drive the agenda of ensuring the Library  serves and represents the diverse communities and regions of Wales;
  • demonstrates senior leadership skills and the ability to provide effective support and challenge to a high profile organisation;
  • demonstrates the ability to think and operate strategically;
  • demonstrates a thorough understanding of good governance;
  • demonstrates business and commercial acumen and experience of income-generating activities (including fundraising); 
  • has experience of operating at a senior level in a complex, multi-disciplinary organisation.

Interview dates

1 December 2021
31 December 2021

Closing date

20/10/2021, 18:00

Additional information

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.