Vacancy -- Trustees - National Library of Wales

Vacancy details

National Library of Wales
Meetings can be attended in person at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth or digitally
12
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 receives around £10m in annual revenue funding from the Welsh Government. 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 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 see their link below; https://www.library.wales/fileadmin/fileadmin/docs_gwefan/amdanom_ni/dogfennaeth_gorfforaethol/2017-2021_Strategic_Plan_FINAL.pdf

Role description

  • Have an understanding and actively promote the benefits of the cultural heritage sector to the diverse communities of 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
  • Review, scrutinise, challenge and support the executive to meet the Library’s aims, objectives and targets and ensure good governance
  • Have a good understanding of corporate responsibility and risk management to ensure the Library’s activities are conducted effectively and efficiently
  • Participate in the corporate planning process, including agreeing annual budget plans for operational programmes and corporate activities
  • Have an understanding of how the public sector in Wales functions
  • Ensure the Library achieves value for money within a framework of best practice, regularity and property
  • Work as part of a Board that positively values difference and challenges unconscious behaviours and actively participate in Board Meetings and key activities
  • Be actively engaged in encouraging board membership and the next generation of trustees
  • 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 some basic words and phrases with understanding
Can write simple work-related correspondence
Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
Can hold simple work-related conversations

Person specification


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


  • A commitment and enthusiasm for the Library’s work and an understanding of the cultural sector as a whole;

  • A demonstrable commitment to understanding of the Library’s dual role as a major charity and a Welsh Government Sponsored Body in line with an understanding of public life and the principles of good governance;

  • Excellent communication skills and a track record of working with others to achieve objectives;

  • The ability to think logically and objectively and to analyse complex information in order to identify key issues and make effective decisions; and

  • An understanding of the diverse communities of Wales and a commitment to actively promoting diversity and inclusivity


Expertise in at least one of the following areas

  • Digital technology and innovation within the cultural heritage sector;

  • Engagement – including experience of engaging with disadvantaged communities and of meeting the needs of diverse groups within Wales;

  • Professional skills in archive and information management/librarianship and collections management, conservation and digital preservation;

  • Audit and risk management;

  • Fundraising/attracting additional funding and generating commercial income;

  • Promotion/marketing; or

  • Property management/estate management.

Interview dates

25 January 2021
26 January 2021

Closing date

02/11/2020, 16:00

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.