4036 - Director of Governance & Performance for the Disused Tips Authority

Job summary

Establishing the Disused Tips Authority

The Disused Tips Authority (DTA) will become fully operational on 1 April 2027. We are recruiting now for a number of senior leadership roles to help shape the organisation, build its capability and culture, and prepare the Authority to assume its statutory responsibilities from day one.This is a unique opportunity to join the DTA during its formative stages and play a key role in establishing a new public body for Wales. Important: The Disused Tips Authority is a separate organisation from the Welsh Government. Please disregard any Welsh Government guidance, policies, or recruitment information linked within this advert and refer to the accompanying Candidate Information Pack for the information relevant to this vacancy.

Build Wales’ New National Regulator. Protect Communities. Leave a Lasting Legacy

Everyone in Wales deserves to feel safe from the risks posed by unstable disused tips.

The Disused Tips Authority is being established under the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Act 2025 to provide national leadership for the safety, management and regulation of disused tips. As Wales' new national regulator, the Authority will deliver a consistent, evidence-led and risk-based approach to managing disused tip risk and helping to protect communities across Wales.

Within this context, the Director of Governance & Performance plays a pivotal role not only in ensuring strong governance and assurance, but in shaping how the organisation operates, makes decisions and holds itself to account.

Job description

This role is fundamental to creating and sustaining an environment where:

• Decisions are made clearly, confidently and transparently
• Performance is understood, evidenced and continuously improved
• Operational policies are developed, implemented & shared nationally
• Governance enables delivery rather than constraining it
• The organisation operates with integrity, openness and professionalism

As a member of the Executive Team, the postholder has a critical leadership role in setting tone, shaping culture and modelling behaviours, ensuring that the Authority is not only effective in what it delivers, but also trusted in how it operates.

For further information about the organisation, please see: Help build a new public body for Wales: Disused Tips Authority for Wales

For full details of the role, the assessment process, and guidance on what to expect at each stage of selection, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack available at: Director of Governance & Performance Candidate Information Pack - 2026 Recruitment Campaign

Person specification

As Director of Governance & Performance, you will provide executive leadership for the Authority's governance, operational policy, performance, finance and assurance functions, ensuring that the organisation has the frameworks, controls, insight and accountability required to fulfil its statutory responsibilities and deliver its strategic ambitions.

As one of the Authority's founding Executive Directors, you will play a leading role in establishing a new national regulator, shaping both the organisation and the systems that support effective governance, organisational performance and public confidence.

You will:

• Lead the development and operation of the Authority's governance and assurance framework.
• Ensure governance arrangements enable effective decision-making, accountability and delivery.
• Provide strategic leadership for operational policy, organisational performance and continuous improvement.
• Oversee risk management, financial stewardship and organisational assurance arrangements.
• Provide confidence and assurance to the Chief Executive, Board and Welsh Government regarding organisational performance, governance and the stewardship of public resources.

You will help create a trusted, high-performing and accountable public body that operates with integrity, transparency and professionalism and delivers lasting public value for the people of Wales.

What we're looking for

We're seeking an experienced executive leader with a strong background in governance, organisational performance, finance, assurance or public sector accountability and a proven track record of leading complex functions within highly scrutinised, publicly accountable environments.

You will bring:

• A degree in a relevant discipline discipline (e.g. Governance, Public Administration, Business Management, Finance, Law, Organisational Development or related field) or significant equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience leading governance, performance, assurance or finance functions.
• Experience developing and operating governance and organisational assurance frameworks.
• Experience working with Boards, Ministers and senior stakeholders.
• A track record of improving organisational performance and accountability.
• Strong judgement, influencing and communication skills.
• A commitment to transparency, continuous improvement and public service.
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body (for example governance, finance, audit, organisational development, risk or public administration disciplines) is desirable.

For full details of the role, the assessment process, and guidance on what to expect at each stage of selection, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack available at: Disused Tips Authority for Wales , Candidate Information Pack , 2026 Recruitment Campaign

Qualifications

A degree in a relevant discipline discipline (e.g. Governance, Public Administration, Business Management, Finance, Law, Organisational Development or related field) or significant equivalent professional experience

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Governance & Organisational Accountability - Please see advert for details
• Performance, Insight & Continuous Improvement• Developing organisational performance frameworks and outcome-focused measures.• Using insight, evidence and organisational intelligence to support strategic decision making and continuous improvement.
• Risk, Assurance & Financial Stewardship• Leading corporate risk management, assurance or internal control frameworks.• Ensuring effective stewardship of public resources through sound financial oversight, assurance and accountability arrangements.
• Policy, Strategy & Organisational Clarity• Translating strategy into clear operational policies, standards and organisational priorities.• Creating alignment between strategy, performance, policy and delivery.
• Board, Ministerial & Public Accountability• Providing s