Vacancy -- Graphic Designer

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

Chief Operating Officer’s Group
Communications
EO - £26,900 - £30,610
£25,860
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales, Other location
Due to the nature of the role, the successful candidate will be required to attend the Cardiff Office up to 3 times per week.
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

To deliver creative design solutions and prepare finished artwork for a wide variety of materials including animations, printed publications, campaigns, branding, display/exhibition systems and digital channels.

The role demands a high degree of graphic design ability, to be able to think creatively, propose workable design solutions and execute high quality accurate artwork.

The post holder will need to have confidence in working to demanding timescales and managing more than one project at a time. Be able to work individually and/or as part of a project driven team of designers, typesetters, animators, photographers, illustrators, senior managers, policy officials, web developers, marketing specialists and external contractors.

The post holder will also need to have up-to-date knowledge of current design industry software applications and processes.

Key tasks:

  • Integrate typographic, photographic, illustrative and graphic elements to prepare high quality artwork for print, animation and digital channels.
  • Conceptualise ideas and propose workable solutions.
  • Work directly with managers and officials to evaluate project requirements and make recommendations on what is achievable and deliverable.
  • Understand and accurately apply the Welsh Government brand identity and associated brand marks.
  • Provide advice to policy officials on Welsh Government branding.
  • Provide advice to policy officials on Welsh Government accessibility guidance in respect of language, colour, fonts and images, Screen Reader technologies, Easy Read.
  • Work as part of a project driven team.
  • Undertake quality control - reviewing proofs.
  • Update production databases.
  • Prioritise own work.
  • Understand Welsh Government aims and objectives, priorities and sensitivities.
  • Be aware of IT developments in software, particularly the Adobe Creative Suite.
  • Be aware of developments in the wider design community.

Development opportunities:

This is a demanding and rewarding role in a key communication area with an opportunity to work with graphic designers, typesetters, print buyers’, Welsh language translators, Welsh Government policy officials, marketing specialists and senior communication officers. The successful candidate will be offered Advanced Adobe Training if required, together with specialist design accessibility training.

Closing Date:

23/08/2022, 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

Competencies:

Setting Direction - Seeing the Big Picture

  • Focus on the overall goal and intent of what they are trying to achieve, not just the task.

Making Effective Decisions

  • Speak with the relevant people in order to obtain the most accurate information and get advice when unsure of how to proceed.

Engaging People - Leading and Communicating

  • Express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing, and with sensitivity and respect for others.

Delivering Results - Delivering Value for Money

  • Understand that all actions have a cost and choose the most effective way to do something in a resource efficient way.

Job Specific Criteria: 

  1. Expert user of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically After Effects, Illustrator and InDesign.
  2. Expert in the production of accurate, high-quality, print ready artwork and digital artwork for web and social media platforms.
  3. Degree or equivalent in Graphic Design or be able to evidence employment in a professional graphic design focused capacity. Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of work attributable to them which will be assessed if candidates progress to the second stage of the process as set out in the Application Process below.

Desirable:

Adobe Certified Professional – AfterEffects

Assessment Process

Please ensure you read the Welsh Government Recruitment Guidance before applying and whilst preparing for interviews, you may consider using the STAR approach when providing evidence.

 There are two stages to the application process. 

  1. Stage one will be to submit your application form and portfolio. The portfolio should be submitted as a PDF or link. Applicants will need to satisfy the 3 job specific criteria before their application progresses to the next stage. The portfolio will be assessed under job specific 3.
  2. Stage two will be a sift based on the 4 competencies provided

 Those applicants that successfully pass both stages of the sift process  will be invited to interview.  At the interview, applicants will be required to make a 10 minute presentation of one project within their portfolio. Further details relating to the presentation will be provided at the invitation to interview stage.

Feedback will only be provided to those invited to interview.

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.
Paul O’Leary – design@gov.wales - 03000 250821

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment 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 an impairment 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.