Vacancy -- Member - Snowdonia National Park Authority (Welsh Essential)

Vacancy details

Snowdonia National Park Authority
Plas Tan y Bwlch, Maentwrog, Gwynedd, or virtually via Zoom
The post of Member will be paid at £4,053 per annum (the remuneration level is reviewed by the Independent Remuneration Panel and is based on an assumption of a minimum 44 days’ work per annum, with additional days regarded as the public service element). Members of Snowdonia NPA are regarded as holders of an office for tax and National Insurance purposes.  Fees payable will, as a result, be chargeable to tax under Schedule E of the Taxes Act and subject to Class 1 National Insurance contributions.  These liabilities will be deducted via the Snowdonia NPA payroll system and the net fee paid to the office holder.  Fees are not subject to VAT. Travel and other reasonable expenses that might be incurred in carrying out work on behalf of the Snowdonia NPA can be claimed from Snowdonia NPA within the recognised limits.  You may also be eligible to claim reimbursement for costs in relation to child care/care of the elderly/assistant carer, whilst carrying out work on behalf of the Snowdonia NPA. If you would like further information about whether you would be eligible for care allowances, please contact Snowdonia NPA: Anwen Gaffey, Members Services Officer, Snowdonia NPA, Tel:  01766 772226 or anwen.gaffey@eryri.llyw.cymru.
44
year

Function of body

National Parks are landscapes of international importance.  Although predominantly rural in nature they are close to urban communities and have significant potential to enrich the lives of the people of, and visitors to, Wales and to contribute positively to the Welsh economy.  A key task of National Park Authorities is to help ensure that these special areas will in the future, be places with a richer and more diverse landscape, wildlife and heritage than today, enjoyed and cherished by a full cross section of society.

Role description

Members of NPAs are required to understand and demonstrate a commitment to National Park purposes and be prepared to commit the time necessary for regular attendance at full Authority and committee meetings, as well as member development events, working groups, events, and representing the Authority on outside bodies.

Key tasks include:

  • Leading the NPA, in particular in defining and developing its strategic direction and in setting challenging objectives;
  • Ensuring that the NPA’s activities are conducted and promoted in as efficient and effective a manner as possible;
  • Ensuring that strategies, including the Management Plan and Local Development Plan , are developed to meet the NPA’s purposes and statutory duties, in accordance with policies and priorities set out by Welsh Government;
  • Monitoring the Authority’s performance to ensure that it fully meets its aims, objectives and performance targets;
  • Ensuring that the Authority’s control, regulation and monitoring of its activities, as well as those of any other bodies which it may sponsor or support, ensure value for money within a framework of best practice, regularity and propriety and to participate in the corporate planning process;
  • Promoting the Welsh Government’s environmental, sustainable development, equality and social inclusion objectives.

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 simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can write simple work-related correspondence
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.  We welcome applications from individuals who have no previous experience of working on public sector boards. Individuals are selected on merit, against the essential criteria and not as representatives of particular organisations or groups. To succeed in this role it is important you are able to apply your skills and experience in ways which help deliver the statutory purposes for which the National Parks were designated (see the second paragraph in Annex B).

The Authority will benefit from being able to draw on a wide range of skills and knowledge in its membership. You will need to be able to bring a national perspective to its work, acknowledging its role and contribution to Welsh aspirations (particularly for the well-being of future generations) whilst recognising the Park’s contribution to everyday environmental, economic, social and cultural life.

Essential Criteria

  • The ability to make a strong contribution to the Park Authority through participating effectively and constructively on its committees and working groups, working in a collegiate manner at all times;
  • The ability to operate effectively in a strategic or national role, providing a direction of travel for the Authority’s executive team, and communicating clearly with a range of audiences;
  • The ability to effectively operate in and contribute to a Welsh/bilingual Authority Board and its wider organisational environment;
  • An appreciation of the current policy and practice of National Park Authorities;
  • A clear understanding and commitment to the ten principles in The Conduct of Members (Principles) (Wales) Order 2001 (see Annex D);
  • Bring lived experiences reflecting the diversity that is Wales.

Knowledge or experience of promoting inclusion and diversity in a relevant context is considered essential for one post and desirable for the other.   Examples could include lived experience of disadvantage or exclusion, holding one or more of the protected characteristics. 
[1], and/or individuals with professional experience in this field. Such professional experience could include tackling financial and health inequalities, or dismantling barriers to inclusion.

Essential Skills: Skills and experience in one or more of the following areas are also essential:

  • The Climate emergency – implementing practical solutions
  • Changes following exit from the EU – rural economy
  • Post-Covid recovery – town centre regeneration and/or sustainable tourism
  • Audit and governance, with an emphasis on public sector requirements
  • Town and country planning

Desirable Skills
Experience of working for a charity, being a trustee, running a business or public administration at a senior level may be advantageous but is by no means essential.

[1] Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation.

 

Interview dates

6 December 2021
10 December 2021

Closing date

28/10/2021, 16:00

Additional information

Contacts:

For further information regarding the selection process, please contact publicappointments@gov.wales.

 

For further information regarding the role of the Snowdonia National Park Authority and the role of Members please contact:

 

Geraint Evans, Land, Nature and Forestry Division, Welsh Government

Tel: 0300 062 2097

E-mail: geraint.evans@gov.wales

 

Or

 

Anwen Gaffey (Members Services Officer)

Snowdonia National Park Authority

National Park Office,

Penrhyndeudraeth,

Gwynedd LL48 6LF

Tel: 01766 772226 / E-mail: anwen.gaffey@eryri.llyw.cymru.

 

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.

 

Outreach events

Snowdonia National Park Authority will be conducting outreach events during which prospective applicants will be able to meet virtually with an existing Member of the Authority to discuss what the role entails. For further details please visit their website: Eryri - Snowdonia (gov.wales). At the same link you will also find videos of existing Members discussing their roles.

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.