Vacancy -- Head Custodian, Harlech Castle, Cadw

Along with our statutory responsibility to protect, preserve and promote the monuments in our care, Cadw is committed to deploying every feasible means to make our heritage sites enjoyable, relevant and stimulating places to visit.

This role is pivotal to achieving this commitment as the postholder will take the lead in managing Harlech Castle and its current team of six custodians, welcoming and engaging with visitors to ensure they have an enjoyable, informed and safe visit.

Harlech Castle has undergone a period of change: an exciting new visitor centre. along with catering facilities, high quality holiday appartments and innovative interpretation, is due to open in July 2015. This development provides an opportunity to increase visitor numbers and hugely enhance visitor enjoyment. The Head Custodian will play a vital role in communicating with visitors, the local community and stakeholders as well as Cadw Head Office staff and contractors to ensure the successful operation of this World Heritage Site.  

Visitor management

• Welcoming the public and seeking to assist them in enjoying their visit, also maintaining the high standards of customer care and site presentation
• Providing information on historical background of the monument, the local area and Cadw in general.
• Managing the safety and security of the monument and its visitors, communicating with contractors, visitors and local stakeholders to ensure that issues arising are dealt with effectively.

People management

• Managing the performance and development of a team of custodial staff in line with WG procedures, driving up performance and ensuring that all mandatory and job specific training is undertaken as appropriate.  
• Organising the staffing rota for the monument to ensure maximum efficiency and taking account of value for money.
• Working closely with the appointed catering contractor and holiday letting contractor.

Developing the monument’s profile

• Assisting in the organisation and delivery of a varied events and activities programme to include custodian-led events, learning activities and arts-led events, working closely with head office teams to ensure effective on site delivery.
• Working with Cadw’s marketing department and actively carrying out PR and marketing campaigns in line with the marketing tool kit, to include managing and promoting the use of social media and producing press releases for the site.
• Building links with Communities First clusters and other local groups to increase local engagement with the monument, working with them to develop activities that appeal to new audiences and put the monument at the heart of the community.
• Building up a network of local contacts with businesses, tourism partners and representing Cadw at local tourism fora.

Income generation and financial management

• Generating income by selling admission tickets, a range of publications and souvenirs and seeking to maximise income from these sales.
• Managing stock including stock levels, ordering, counting and liaising closely with the Cadw sales team.
• Maintaining records and accounts and undertaking financial procedures as specified in the Welsh Government’s cash and accounting regulations.
• Completing monthly monument returns in line with WG financial guidelines.
• Implementing audit or governance guidance across all areas of the operation.
• Ensuring correct use of EPoS / Electronic tills, Psion terminals and PDQ Terminals (EFTpos payments).

N.B. In addition to the duties and responsibilities listed, the postholder will perform other duties assigned by the line manager from time to time.

This post offers the opportunity to develop skills and experience in managing a significant heritage visitor attraction including event management, community engagement, marketing and public relations as well as developing people management and leadership skills. The postholder will play a key role in achieving Cadw's aim to make the historic environment accessible and enjoyable. Job specific training will be provided as appropriate . Cadw is committed to staff development and the postholder will be encouraged and supported to develop relevant professional, technical and leadership skills.

09/07/2015, 16:00

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:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• 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.

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.