Swyddog Yr Iaith Gymraeg

Job summary

Swyddog Yr Iaith Gymraeg

We are seeking a proactive and enthusiastic Welsh Language Scheme Officer to lead and coordinate Welsh language activity across the organisation. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in strengthening our commitment to the Welsh language and shaping how it is embedded in our culture, services and ways of working.

The postholder will act as a champion for the Welsh language, promoting its use across the organisation and providing advice and guidance to colleagues at all levels. You will work closely with senior leaders and key stakeholders to ensure responsibilities under the Welsh Language Scheme are understood and delivered, while also leading activity to review, update and modernise the Scheme to reflect current organisational priorities and wider developments.

You will continue to develop and further implement a clear action plan to monitor delivery and impact, support Welsh language learning opportunities, and help build engagement through initiatives such as the Welsh Language Interest Group.

This role offers the opportunity to influence senior stakeholders, drive meaningful cultural change, and increase visibility and use of Welsh across the organisation. It would suit someone with strong communication and influencing skills, who is passionate about promoting the Welsh language and able to work collaboratively across a wide range of stakeholders.

Working Style

This role will be carried out in-line with IPO Hybrid working arrangements where staff are currently expected to spend at least 20% of their time working onsite from one of our offices. This role is based in our NewportOffice.

The requirement for attendance at an office location can vary by role so we would encourage candidates to discuss working arrangements with the recruiting manager to agree a reasonable balance between working from home and the office.

Job description

Main duties consist of but are not limited to:

As Welsh Language Officer, you will act as a key ambassador for the Welsh language, providing advice and support to colleagues and driving improvements in Welsh language provision across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as a point of contact for Welsh language queries and promoting its use across the organisation
• Promoting the Welsh Language Scheme and ensuring stakeholders understand their responsibilities
• Implementing an action plan that monitors delivery and effectiveness of our Welsh Language Scheme
• Coordinating Welsh language learning opportunities and increasing engagement
• Organising and supporting the Welsh Language Interest Group
• Proactive stakeholder engagement, planning and communication of stakeholder meetings
• Management of Welsh language translation process and Welsh language training courses
• Working closely with senior leaders, the Welsh Language Commissioner’s Office, and colleagues across the organisation to embed the Welsh language into day-to-day activity
• Manage our translation contract for the Welsh language and undertake translation work when needed as well as quality assuring translated content
• Conduct an annual audit of Welsh language capability within the IPO

Person specification

Essential criteria

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both Welsh and English
• Strong influencing skills

• Ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Experience of maintaining performance and focus when faced with challenges, setbacks, or competing priorities
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to coordinate workstreams, monitor progress, and provide updates on delivery.

How to Apply

Click the 'Applynow' button and complete the application form by providing the following:

500-word Personal Statement

• Use this to explain why you're suitable for the role.
• Structure your statement around the essential criteriain the Person Specification.
• Make sure to provide clear examples to show how you meet each requirement.

Behaviours

Provide one 250-word example for each of the following Behaviour headings;

Communicating and Influencing

• Build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Influence outcomes where you may not have direct authority

Working Together

• Play an active role in team discussions and decisions
• Resolve issues to keep work moving forward

For further information on the sift and interview stages of this recruitment campaign, please head to our 'Things you need to know' section below.

Please visit our Civil Service Careers page - IPO – Recruitment Support , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

If you require job-specific information, please contact John Chick.
E-mail: [email removed]

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,736, Intellectual Property Office contributes £10,642 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A flexible working scheme with excellent development opportunities
• 25 days annual leave moving to 30 days in annual increments (1 day per year) over 5 years of reckonable service. You will also get 8 days public leave and 1 day privilege leave
• Family friendly policies that support modern working families and individuals with caring responsibilities
• A variety of support functions; Staff Counselling Service, Peer to Peer Support Group
• Eligibility for special and office-wide bonus payments
• The opportunity to form part of our many inclusive network groups, find out more by looking at Intellectual Property Office (IPO) (diversityjobsgroup.com)
• A range of wellbeing initiatives; Onsite Gym (Newport office), Eye Care Scheme, Volunteering Programme, Cycling facilities
• Free car parking is available on site at our Newport office
• On-site shop, restaurant and coffee shop at our Newport office

For more information about what’s on offer at the Intellectual Property Office please review our IPO benefit pack attached to the bottom of this advert.

Please note that benefits may be subject to change.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candi