Welsh Parliament

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Cardiff

About the job

Job summary

The Governance Service sits within the Resources Directorate and ensures the Commission has robust corporate processes in place to help us achieve the Senedd Commission’s strategic goals. It includes expertise in procurement and managing improvement projects, risk analysis and performance reporting as well as business continuity. The team also supports our Audit and Risk Committee (ARAC).

As the Head of Governance and Strategic Planning, you will work closely with the Chief Executive and have regular dialogue with Executive Board Members, the Head of Executive Office, and the Head of Commission & Member Support Services. You will develop our Corporate Plan and ensure that we have effective systems and process in place to provide assurance to the Senedd on the effective operation and functions of the Commission through the Annual Governance Statement and Annual Report & Accounts.This will all be done within a context of organisation-wide transformational change, within which you will play a leading role.

You will lead and continuously enhance the governance, strategic planning, risk management, performance monitoring, and business continuity frameworks. You will also lead our portfolio project management function (the Strategic Planning Unit), and play a leading role within our transformational change projects (particularly with the Ways of Working Programme) and our Portfolio Management Group, overseeing the investment plans for our annual projects portfolio.

For more information, please view the job description.

Job description

• Corporate Plan Development: Create a Corporate Plan that captures the Commission and Execiutiove Board’s vision and priorities, along with the necessary oversight systems to deliver it, including strong reporting arrangements.
• Change Management: effectively discharge the functions of our Strategic Plannning Unit, driving and supporting our change programmes and project management approach.
• Service Planning: Deliver a service planning process across all teams to ensure alignment with the Corporate Plan, and project delivery, providing increased assurance to the Executive Board on delivery progress.
• Unified Decision-Making and Reporting: Establish and lead a unified reporting framework that (working closely with the Head of Executive Office and Head of the Commission & Member Support Service) ensures all plans, strategies, projects, and performance / progress reports are presented to the Executive Bopard in a clear, timely manner, meeting the required standards.
• Governance Framework: provide strong corporate leadership and be accountable for maintaining a robust governance framework that effectively supports the precepts of good governance (namely, leadership, effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability) and delivers good governance outcomes (namely an ethical culture, good performance, effective control, and legitimacy). Also accountable for the publication of the Annual Report & Accounts.
• Risk Management & assurance: provide strong corporate leadership and be accountable for maintaining effective, practical and proportionate systems of risk management and assurance through the continuous improvement of formal risk management and assurance frameworks. and managing our procurement and business continuity functions.
• Supporting oversight and Control: Work closely with and support the Head of Executive Office and Head of Commission & Member Support Service to maintain an Executive Schedule that drives the Executive Board decision-making agenda to align with the corporate priorities, translates executive actions into corporate and commission planning, ensure timely recommendations and engagement with key stakeholders, and maintain effective communication and performance reporting.
• In addition, the post-holder will carry out the following tasks:
• Providing objective, professional and evidence-based advice to the CEO/Accounting Officer and Executive Board on all aspects of governance, planning, programme delivery, risk and assurance. Championing best practice in all of these areas, horizon scanning and commenting on proposed developments.
• Engaging across the organisation, at the highest levels, particularly with the CEO, Directors and members of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee. Helping colleagues make best use of governance and strategic planning resources to improve performance, efficiency and value for money.
• Supporting the Commissioner for Budget and Governance and cultivating a meaningful and constructive working relationship, providing any support the Commissioner may require in discharging their duties.
• Leading on high profile, sensitive and strategic assurance and governance reviews and investigations - including Board Effectiveness Reviews of the Commission as a Governing Body.
• Developing, promoting and communicating activities and initiatives pertinent to increasing appreciation and awareness of governance and strategic planning matters.
• Keeping up to date with developments in governance, risk management, planning, Portfolio, Programme, Project Management (PPM), and assurance.
• Attending all Leadership Team meetings and offering advice and guidance on any matters of corporate governance and strategic planning.

Person specification

Job Specific criteria:

1. A successful track record in strategic planning, assurance or risk management, demonstrating the ability to drive and influence organisation-wide improvements in these areas.
2. Demonstrated expertise in programme and project management methodologies and of delivering significant organisational change within a similar context, providing evidence of a successful track record within this area.
3. Understanding of central government governance and assurance requirements, including HM Treasury, Office of Government Commerce and other related guidance.
4. Experience of liaising with senior officials, elected members and other key stakeholders with the ability to influence outcomes by gaining their trust and confidence.
5. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to provide clearly presented, concise, strategic advice, insight and support at Executive and Board level.

Desirable criteria:

The following qualities are not essential for this particular post but have been deemed as desirable. These will only be taken into account in the event of two (or more) candidates acquiring the same score at either application or interview stage.

1. Good understanding of the most significant issues facing the Senedd Commission through a period of intense organisational change.

Welsh language criteria:

The language skills for this post have been assessed as follows:

• Listening: Understand most job related routine and non-routine discussions and instructions (Level 3)
• Speaking: Able to hold an extended conversation with a fluent speaker on most job-related routine and non-routine matters (Level 3)
• Reading: Understand most job-related routine and non-routine text when standard language is used (Level 3)
• Writing: Able to write job-related routine and non-routine text (Level 3)

These skills will be assessed as part of the selection process.

For further information on the Welsh language levels, please visit our website.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,350, Welsh Parliament contributes £21,249 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Ed Williams
• Email : Ed.Williams@Senedd.Wales

Recruitment team

• Email : jobs@senedd.wales

Further information

https://senedd.wales/commission/work-for-the-senedd-commission/