Vacancy -- Chair - Adnodd

Vacancy details

Adnodd
Virtual with the possibility of physical meetings in a central location to all board members in the future
£114 per day plus travel. Other reasonable
expenses that might be incurred in carrying out
work on behalf of the company may also be
claimed
5
month

Function of body

The lack of relevant, timely and adequate resources to support the introduction of the reformed qualifications in 2015 led to concerns being raised about the availability of resources in both languages for the new curriculum. The ‘Welsh and bilingual resources summit’ held in Spring 2017 explored the issues relating to delivering resources which were relevant to Wales and its new curriculum in both languages simultaneously. A stakeholders group was established to develop a vision and agree on an infrastructure for the future production of bilingual educational resources. 

The provision of purposeful, high quality and timely educational teaching and learning materials is a critical element in ensuring the credibility of the curriculum, and in securing the necessary commitment from practitioners to realise it. Curriculum for Wales is innovative, ambitious and challenging and therefore demands a radically different and equally ambitious approach to the development of resources and supporting materials as it is embedded over the years ahead. Minister for Education and Welsh Language agreed to the group’s recommendation of establishing an arm’s length entity with a Board accountable to Welsh Ministers.

Adnodd was incorporated as a Welsh Government subsidiary company limited by guarantee on 12 July 2022.

Significant volumes of resources are currently commissioned but there is a need for this to be more strategically coordinated and there is also room for budgets and expertise available nationally to be used more effectively. Without a national strategic process, efforts can be duplicated, parity in provision in Welsh and English is not ensured and not all resources are quality assured. 

This company will provide opportunities for stakeholders from across sectors to work together, to share expertise and experience and develop the capacity of schools and practitioners in creating resources that support their local curriculum. It will be an easily recognisable ‘go-to’ service that will facilitate co-construction between teachers and other stakeholders, ensuring that talent is recognised, nurtured and developed. Linked to the work of the National Network for curriculum implementation, it will ensure that resources and supporting materials are developed in line with the principles and the ethos of the new curriculum and that they support the role of schools and practitioners as curriculum designers. It will also invest in skills and capacity within the publishing sector, ensuring a fully joined up approach. 

Our vision

To enable learners, practitioners and parents/carers in Wales to access high quality educational resources and supporting materials, in both Welsh and English, to support the learning and teaching of Curriculum for Wales and its qualifications. 

We will:

-    Ensure that relevant, timely resources and supporting materials are available in both Welsh and English, at the same time, to support the Curriculum for Wales and its qualifications.
-    Provide a strategic oversight to the provision and commissioning of resources ensuring that resources and supporting materials are responsive to the needs identified by the education sector
-    Facilitate closer working across sectors to ensure co-construction of resources to maximise expertise, knowledge and skills
-    Provide a quality assurance framework for the commissioning, development and production of resources, ensuring that resources developed are in line with the ethos and core principles of Curriculum for Wales and are fit for purpose
-    Develop and invest in skills and capacity in creating, sharing and publishing educational resources in Wales.
-    Ensure value-for-money, making effective use of budgets and resources.
-    Advance the effective promotion, awareness and use of resources.

Role description

This is an exciting opportunity to join a Board responsible for ensuring the provision of Welsh and English teaching and learning resources and supporting materials to
support the curriculum and its qualifications.


Leadership and strategic direction
The Chair is responsible for leadership of the board and ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of its role. The Chair should promote a culture of openness and debate by
facilitating the effective contribution of all Board members. Communications between the Board and the Welsh Government about the strategic direction of the Company
shall, in the normal course of business, be conducted through the Chair, who will inform other members of such discussions.


Governance and accountability
The Chair is responsible for setting the Board’s agenda and ensuring that adequate time is available for discussion of all agenda items, in particular strategic issues.
The Chair will be expected to perform their duties, whether statutory, fiduciary or common-law, faithfully, efficiently and diligently to a standard commensurate with both the functions of the role and their knowledge, skills and experience.
They will exercise their powers in their role as a company director having regard to relevant obligations under prevailing law and regulation, including the Companies Act 2006, the UK Corporate Governance Code and associated regulations and legislation.


Stakeholder management
The Chair will be a key conduit in ensuring effective engagement with stakeholders helping to secure good relationships to deliver the work.
The Chair will ensure the critical continuity needed in establishing and operating the new company.

Further duties and responsibilities
In undertaking their duties and responsibilities as a company director, the Chair shall have responsibility for:

 formulating Adnodd’s Board’s strategies, ensuring that these fit both within the policies and approach set by Welsh Ministers, and that the company’s aims,
objectives and culture are aligned with key government touchstones such as Prosperity for All, the Well Being of Future Generations Act;
 ensure that Adnodd promotes and sees the importance of local and national stakeholders in achieving the company’s overarching vision, objectives and outcomes;
 mentoring the team, and in particular the Chief Executive, to ensure that they have a clear understanding of their own roles and responsibilities, and how they can make best use of the Board;
 ensuring the Board, in reaching decisions, takes proper account of applicable statutory and financial management requirements and all relevant guidance including any relevant guidance provided by the Welsh Government;
 promoting the economic, efficient and effective use of staff and other resources;
 ensuring high standards of regularity and propriety; and
 representing the views of the Board to the public and being a key conduit in stakeholder management and engagement.
The Chair will also lead on:
 ensuring he or she, together with the other 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;
 ensuring the Board has a balance of skills appropriate to directing the Company’s business, and advise the Welsh Government on any Board appointments;
 notifying and seeking approval from the Welsh Government for any proposed changes to the structure or membership of the Board;
 ensuring a code of conduct for Directors is in place consistent with the Model Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies in Wales; Code of Good Practice (February 2017) as it applies to Welsh Government
Arms-Length Public Bodies; and
 reporting to the Welsh Government, via the Company’s Sponsor Team.

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.
Essential
Can read most work-related material
Can prepare most written work in Welsh
Can understand most work-related conversations
Can hold most work-related conversations

Person specification

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.
The Chair will be able to uphold high standards of integrity and probity. This will include the company’s governance, decision-making and financial management
assurances when considering, promoting and safeguarding regularity, propriety, affordability, sustainability, risk, and value for money across the public sector; and
accounting accurately and transparently, for the company’s financial position and transactions. They must be able to ensure high standards of probity in the management of public funds.


Essential criteria:
 An experienced and diplomatic leader
 Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills and the ability to develop effective, sustainable partnerships
 Have experience, knowledge and practical examples of working in education or publishing sector be it in a private or public setting.
 Have an understanding and awareness of diversity and inclusion, along with a commitment to inclusive leadership
 Can demonstrate their ability to think and operate strategically
 Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership (Nolan Principles)
 Good understanding of company governance issues.


Welsh Language
Welsh language skills are deemed essential for this post. You should note your Welsh language skills in your application. Interviews for Welsh essential posts will be
conducted through the medium of Welsh.

Interview dates

10 October 2022
15 October 2022

Closing date

02/09/2022, 16:00

Additional information

For further information regarding the role of Adnodd and the role of Member(s) please contact Ann Evans: 

Tel: 03000253833

Email: ann.evans3@gov.wales 

Or if contacting during 28 July – 9 August please contact IsadranYGymraeg.WelshLanguageDivision@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

This vacancy is closed to applications.