Senior Policy Advisor: Economy (Ref: 21177)

Job summary

Job description

Wales Office

Job Description for Senior Policy Advisor: Economy

Job Title

Senior Policy Advisor: Economy

Pay Grade: SEO

Salary: £42,914 - £46,182 (National) / £49,325 - £53,081 (London)mYour salary will be dependent on your base location

Location: Ty William Morgan, Cardiff, CF10 1EP / Gwydyr House, London, SW1A 2NP

Contract: Up to 2-year fixed term contract or loan with the possibility of extension or permanency

Clearance: CTC (See Additional Information)

About the Wales Office:

The Wales Office 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 the 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.

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.

The Office is based over two sites, with one base in Cardiff and another in London. As an accredited smarter working organisation, we offer considerable flexibility around ‘the way we work.’ We have great technology and an attractive employee benefits package which includes a commitment to investing in the learning & development of our staff.

About the team:

The role is within the Policy Team in the Wales Office, which currently compromises of 12 people. The Policy 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 and resolve issues that affect Wales. The day-to-day work of the team involves engagement with senior stakeholders inside and outside of Government as well as advising ministers, officials, and regional partners on a broad range of topics.

Description:

Key Responsibilities:

This is an exciting face passed role which will require engagement with a wide-range of senior stakeholders, including frequent engagement with Ministers.

As the Wales Office is not a direct policy delivery department, we rely on our ability to influence to deliver Ministerial priorities. You will need to quickly establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders both within and outside government. You will also need to be prepared to challenge and push back when under pressure as you deliver Ministerial priorities. You will need to work at pace to often challenging deadlines with an ability to draw together different sources of information and make sense of it for Ministers.

There will be a need for an excellent political antenna and so you will be proficient in keeping abreast of the latest developments in Wales and the rest of the UK. You will need to show leadership in the way you drive forward progress on your area of expertise.

The role will involve:

• Support the department wide approach to the Industrial Strategy to ensure it delivers for Wales, across Economy, Trade, Investment and R&D.
• Working with Senior stakeholders across Wales to build up a strong understanding of the economic landscape of Wales.
• Considering the implications for Wales of proposed UK Government policy initiatives or legislation.
• Briefing the Secretary of State or Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in advance of important meetings with external stakeholders or other Ministers.
• Replying to written correspondence from Parliamentarians, external groups or members of the public, for example, and supporting the SoS/PUSS to prepare for Parliamentary engagements, such as Welsh Affairs Committee appearances and Welsh Orals sessions in the House of Commons.
• Meeting with the Welsh Government and senior external stakeholders to establish working relationships and to understand a broad range of views on emerging Welsh innovation and economic policy.
• Line Management

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.

Person Specification:

You will be an experienced policy official and effective at briefing others. You will be well organised and able to deliver at pace. You will be capable of learning new policy areas quickly. You will have well-honed interpersonal skills to establish rapport with stakeholders quickly and have the confidence to provide challenge to colleagues where appropriate. You will be decisive and use evidence to inform the strategic direction of the office’s approach to the economy.

Please evidence in your Statement of Suitability, how closely you match the essential criteria:

Essential:

• Given the need to cover multiple policy portfolios you will need to show experience of working in an environment where a multi-tasking approach and the need for prioritisation has been required.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and giving effective policy advice to Senior Officials or Ministers through both oral and written briefing and correspondence.
• Clear evidence of experience of working in a time pressured environment.
• Confidence in engaging with senior stakeholders and managing relationships.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Desirable:

• Welsh Language skills.
• Knowledge of the economic landscape in Wales.

Recruitment Process

This campaign will be undertaken using the Civil Service Success Profile framework. You will need to provide evidence in your application to cover the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead Behaviour) (Application & Interview)
• Seeing the Big Picture (Application & Interview)
• Making Effective Decisions (Interview Only)
• Delivering at Pace (Interview Only)

In the event of a high volume of applicants, we will sift only on the lead behaviour to create a shortlist for interview.

Successful candidates who make it to the interview stage will also be asked to provide a five-minute presentation on ‘What are the opportunities and constraints for economic growth in Wales’.

Additional Information

The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right. Staff recruited to work at the Wales Office will be employees of the Ministry of Justice who provide employment services on our behalf.

This role requires CTC level clearance. Applicants for National Security Clearance (CTC) must be resident in the UK for 3 years immediately prior to their application for Security Clearance. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years), you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.

If you do not meet the above requirement, you may still be considered for the role if, for example:

• You have been serving overseas with HM Armed Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government.
• You were studying abroad.
• You were living overseas with parents.

Person specification

Behaviours

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