Vacancy -- Youth Work Strategy Manager

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

Education, Social Justice and Welsh Language Group
Support for Learners Division
HEO - £32,460 - £39,690
£31,210
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
'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:

The post holder will support policy development and implementation of the Interim Youth Work Board’s report recommendations, in line with the Programme for Government Commitment to take forward the Board’s proposals.  This will involve consideration of specific recommendations and working collaboratively with key internal and external stakeholders to develop policy options for implementation. 

As required, the post holder will be expected to support the wider work of the branch, in particular policy for young people that have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from education, employment or training, at risk of youth homelessness.  This work contributes to the Programme for Government Commitment to strengthen the Youth Engagement and Progression Framework (YEPF).

Key tasks:

  • Managing own work and prioritise to ensure that objectives are met to time and to standard, using own initiative and decision making, managing risks as appropriate.
  • Supporting the development of policy positions and making sound recommendations based on evidence to senior managers and Ministers.
  • Undertaking impact assessments of the implementation of the recommendations and associated policy development.
  • Developing and maintaining effective relationships with key internal and external partners and stakeholders to help develop policy and options for implementation, including the new Youth Work Strategy Implementation Board, key strategic leads, any groups supporting the Implementation Board, the Young Person Committee and colleagues from across-government.
  • Contributing to correspondence, Senedd questions and Ministerial briefings to a high standard.
  • Supporting the development of the implementation plan that underpins the Youth Work Strategy.

Development opportunities:

This is a great opportunity to make an impact by bringing your valuable knowledge, skills and experience to a government department. You will also be able to develop your capability and skill sets by being involved in a wide range of critical work, including taking forward Programme for Government commitments.

Closing Date:

17/08/2022, 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.

Desirable
Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
Can hold some work-related conversations
Can understand routine work-related conversations
Can write basic messages on everyday topics

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

Strategic Cluster – Setting Direction

  • Changing and improving: Be prepared to take managed risks, ensuring these are planned and their impact assessed.
  • Making Effective Decisions: Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations. 

 People Cluster - Engaging People

  • Leading and communicating: Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner with all stakeholders and stand ground when needed.

 Performance Cluster - Delivering Results

  • Managing a quality service: Make effective use of project management skills and techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions.

Job Specific Criteria

  • Experience of developing policies and/or programmes that benefit children and young people.
  •  Ability to work collaboratively, communicate effectively and build professional relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders at various levels.
  • Provide sound judgement with the ability to interpret information where issues are complex or conflicting with the ability to weigh up a number of factors to produce constructive ideas and solutions.

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted and successful candidates invited to attend an 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.
Dyfan Evans - Dyfan.Evans@gov.wales - 03000 253700

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.