Vacancy -- Technical Advisor - Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Economy, Skills and Natural Resources
Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management
HEO - £32,460 - £39,690
£29,850
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Cardiff
TBC

Purpose of Post:

Flood and Coastal Risk Management Branch is located within Water and Flood Division and has a number of key areas of responsibility including the development and implementation of policy in relation to flood and coastal erosion risk management, the development and management of a significant programme to support these policy aims and the provision of technical advice and expertise on flood and coastal erosion risk.

Over the life of this Government, we will invest almost £300 million (including European funding) in flood and coastal erosion risk management in Wales protecting thousands of homes. An additional £150 million will be made available for coastal schemes through the Coastal Risk Management Programme from 2018.

Investment will be driven by a risk management approach as set out in our National Strategy for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management in Wales. It follows the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 in advocating a move from building defences alone to a risk based approach with wider and more sustainable benefits.

The main purpose of the post is to support the Welsh Government flood programme by appraising business cases for flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes and ensure they are effectively monitored during and after completion. The post holder will provide technical advice to senior officials and Local Authorities to enable Welsh Government to support the delivery of the flood programme and the development of flood and coastal erosion risk management policy and the National Strategy.

The post holder would work alongside the existing programme and policy officials in the flood team and liaise with Welsh Government Finance Managers to ensure successful delivery.

They will appraise applications/schemes and provide additional technical support to the Coastal Risk Management Programme.

Key tasks:

  • To assess technical and economic appraisals of individual flood and coastal defence schemes
  • To monitor the preparation and progress of flood and coastal schemes to ensure compliance with programme and achievement of outcomes
  • Provide direction and guidance to local authorities on the grant application process.
  • To prepare technical guidance/advice for Senior Officials and support the Senior Technical Officer in the assessment of flood risk schemes and drafting business plans
  • To assist with the preparation/development of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management policy
  • To work with local authorities and coastal groups to deliver the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management programme, innovative finance (coastal) programme, Shoreline Management action plans, and other initiatives.
  • Collection of robust information to demonstrate financial, equality and environmental compliance.
  • Ensure that the programme follows a risk management approach as set out in the National Strategy for Flood & Coastal Erosion Management in Wales.
  • Seek out opportunities for partnership funding and multiple benefits for schemes within the programme. Examples may include regeneration, transport and utilities infrastructure, tourism, job creation and environmental improvements. 
  • The post-holder will not be responsible for direct line management to commence. However, the opportunity exists for line-management.
  • Assist with programme and budget management reporting.

Development opportunities:

The post provides the opportunity for staff with technical/engineering experience to move into this important area of work.   The challenge of the post will be to develop, maintain and apply specialist expertise while considering the technical, social, economic and environmental aspects of flood and coastal risk management schemes. It offers the opportunity to work with external organisations across Wales to develop and implement the flood and coastal programme and to represent Welsh Government at stakeholder groups. There will also be an opportunity to be involved in policy development work. Support in pursuing relevant training and development opportunities will be given.

Closing Date:

16/12/2019, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Job Specifics

  1. It is essential to possess an appropriate and relevant qualification related to civil engineering, coastal or flood risk management. It would be desirable for the candidate to be or aspire to be a member of an appropriate professional body.
  2. The ability to demonstrate technical/engineering experience relevant to infrastructure or land management projects.
  3. The ability to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of the project appraisal process relating to engineering solutions.

Competencies

1. Setting Direction – Making Effective Decisions

Recognise patterns and trends in a wide range of evidence/data and draw key conclusions

2. Engaging People – Collaborating and Partnering -

Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes

3. Delivering Results - Delivering at Pace -

Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people are facing conflicting demands

4. Setting Direction - Seeing the Bigger Picture -

Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work

Assessment Process

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
Tom McLean - Thomas.Mclean@gov.wales - 0300 025 8244

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have a disability which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to a disability in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy 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.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.