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Job Title Senior Policy Adviser – Regional Growth

Pay Grade SEO

Location Caspian Point, Cardiff / Gwydyr House, London

Reports to G7 Head of Local and Regional Growth

Salary £30,989 - £41,095 (Cardiff) £36,798 - £47,591 (London)

About the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales:

The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is the face of the UK Government in Wales and the voice of Wales in Westminster. We support the Secretary of State for Wales and his Ministerial team in representing Wales at the heart of Government. We work in partnership with other Government Departments and other stakeholders to deliver a stronger Wales within a strong United Kingdom.

This is an exciting time to be involved in regional growth in Wales. Following the EU referendum, the United Kingdom union is more of a priority than ever to this Government and the need for Whitehall departments to understand how to work with the devolved administrations in the context of legislative change has never been greater. 

Our departmental values are Commitment; Collaboration and Quality. These shape how we operate in a challenging, demanding and fast paced environment which requires flexibility, transparency and professionalism.

About the team:

The team operates across a wide range of reserved and devolved policy areas, working to identify opportunities to benefit Wales within emerging UK Government policy and acting to identify issues and resolve misunderstandings. This influence-strong brief requires a flexible approach to engagement and an excellent understanding of the bigger picture.

The Regional Growth team combines its work to progress longer-term, strategic objectives with an agile and responsive role in the department. Team members will frequently be called upon to provide briefing for Ministers or senior officials and provide understanding and insight on the impact of current events on their policy areas. 

The team consists of a Grade 7 Project and Programme Management specialist, an SEO Policy officer and a HEO Policy Officer. The two specialisms work collaboratively to support the delivery of the growth deals ensuring policy alignment with UK Government strategic policy objectives.

Description:

The Regional Growth team oversees governance and assurance of the UK Government investment in Wales’ three City and Regional Growth Deals currently in delivery – the Cardiff City Deal, the Swansea Bay City Deal and the North Wales Growth Deal. The team is also responsible for the development of the Mid Wales Growth Deal which is currently developing a Final Deal Agreement between the two Mid Wales Local Authorities, the Welsh Government and the UK Government. The Final Deal Agreement will lead to the establishment of the Mid Wales Growth Deal.

Purpose of the Role:

The role is a core position within the Regional Growth team. The post holder will play a key role in leading and driving the assurance and governance of the Growth Deals, whilst progressing the Secretary of State’s priorities and will build effective relationships across Whitehall to deliver the Regional Growth deals within Wales and the wider UK Government Levelling Up and Union agendas. 

Key responsibilities: 

This is a key position within OSSW. The team undertakes strategic policy work, working with other parts of Government and a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, to support the Office in delivering on the Secretary of State’s priorities.

It will involve effectively managing the capacity and workload of the team to ensure:

• Effective briefing is provided to ministers. 

• The team responds effectively to requests for policy products from external sources, such as PQs or Cabinet Committee write-rounds.

• Line management of 1 staff member.

• Ensuring that staff have well-developed progression and development plans and are equipped with the appropriate means of pursuing them.

• Matrix management to members of other teams working in the policy areas as required.

• Ensuring that the team is working to progress agreed delivery plans for priority areas. 

• Where progress is blocked you will be expected to seek effective solutions, highlighting or escalating to senior managers as necessary.

• Developing and maintaining effective relationships with internal teams including the Policy Team, Private Office and Correspondence Team, working with them to effectively manage expectations and resolve issues where they arise to ensure consistent delivery.

• Managing relationships with OGDs and external stakeholders across the Regional Growth Deals within Wales.

• Managing relationships with Local Authorities, Welsh Government and other UK Government Departments across the Regional Growth Deals.

• You will be expected to represent senior staff in cross-Whitehall meetings as required, acting as their designated representative whilst adding value through your knowledge and experience.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the postholder.

Recruitment Process: 

This campaign will use the Success Profiles Framework and you will therefore be expected to demonstrate the following elements at the various stages of the selection process:

Person Specification

In the statement of suitability, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of the following criteria:

• Given the dynamic, fast moving environment of the Local and Regional Growth Team, you will need to display effective team leadership & management capability; strong planning and logistical skills, and an ability to work at pace and prioritise effectively and allocate work calmly despite being under pressure. 

• In briefing the Secretary of State and Senior Officials independently, you will need to be a confident communicator and capable of verbally presenting complex information and advice. 

• Your drafting skills will need to evidence good attention to detail and perceptive judgement when producing briefings and submissions, showing versatility of thought in dealing with the breadth of portfolios interests. 

• Credible and trusted, you will readily develop strong relationships, both within the office and across government, by demonstrating a natural collaborative approach and well-honed interpersonal skills. 

In the Technical section of the application form you will need to briefly evidence:

• Level of any Welsh Language Capability (Non-Essential)

In the Behaviours section of the application form you will need to provide examples to evidence the following behaviours:  

• Communicating and Influencing 

• Leadership

• Seeing the Bigger picture

• Working Together

NB: In the event of 20 or more applications, we will undertake an initial shortlist based on evidence of the communicating and influencing behaviour only.