General Information
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Cardiff, London
Region
London, Wales
Closing Date
19-Oct-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SCS 2
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
10397
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Key Responsibilities
Supporting Ministers in cross-government work to strengthen the United Kingdom and Wales's place within it, including:
* Key adviser to Ministers. Responsible for provision of quality advice, across the full range of devolved and non-devolved subjects, often at short notice.
* Responsible for line management of the Senior Leadership Team with wider leadership responsibility for a team of approximately fifty staff across Cardiff and London.
* Overall responsibility for corporate services, strategy and planning; ensuring alignment between resources and priorities; seeking continuous improvement in processes and performance. Managing a budget of around £6m efficiently and effectively.
* Leading and motivating staff to meet challenging Ministerial objectives in a fast-moving environment; and demonstrating wider leadership across Government in developing a cross-cutting strategy and narrative on Wales.
* Managing Wales Office relationships with Ministers (including in other Government Departments), the Welsh Government, Whitehall, and external stakeholders to the benefit of Wales Office's strategic objectives.
* Principal Accounting Officer for Wales Office (c £6m p.a.) and transfer of resources to Welsh Ministers (£15bn p.a.) and ensuring the highest standards of internal controls and public sector governance.
* 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
Additional Information
Please view our candidate information pack for full details about the role, key responsibilities person specification, and the criteria you will be assessed against throughout the recruitment process.
We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace w everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging.
To find out more about how we do this visit:
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.
Job Description Attachment
* CY Candidate Information Pack - Director Wales (Welsh translated job description)
* Accessible Candidate Pack Director, Wales (Job Description Supporting Documents)
* Candidate Information Pack - Director Wales (Job Description Attachment)
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Application form stage assessments
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide a statement to evidence how you meet the essential criteria required for the role:
* Outstanding leadership: The successful candidate will demonstrate exemplary leadership and people management capabilities, inspire teams and consistently elicit outstanding performance from colleagues. Their ability to galvanise and motivate staff across diverse locations to pursue and achieve ambitious objectives is paramount, especially when navigating challenging targets that require collaborative effort.
* Outstanding Communication and Influencing Abilities: Exceptional communication skills are vital, along with the capability to influence a broad spectrum of stakeholders. The ability to convey ideas persuasively and adapt messaging to various audiences to enhance the impact of the Wales Office.
* Strategic thinking: Proven capacity for strategic foresight is essential, enabling the postholder to effectively horizon scan, comprehend complex contexts, and devise plans for successful delivery across a broad spectrum of objectives. This role demands a visionary thinker who can anticipate and address challenges proactively.
* Robust Understanding of Organisational Governance, Risk, and Financial Management: Understanding of organisational governance, risk management, and financial stewardship is essential, equipping the candidate to navigate the fiscal landscape effectively and ensure compliance and accountability within all Wales Office functions.
* Dynamic judgment: The postholder must possess excellent judgment, demonstrating astute political sensitivity and the capacity to navigate successfully within a complex and rapidly evolving political landscape. This skill set will enable effective engagement with various stakeholders while safeguarding the Wales Office's integrity and objectives
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
Week commencing 17th November 2025
Other Assessments
Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation, SEE
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
DBS Standard
Security Clearance (SC)