Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor

Job summary

We’re responsible for Land Transaction Tax, Landfill Disposals Tax and the introduction of the Visitor Levy. Our work raises revenue to support public services, like the NHS and schools, in communities across Wales. But that’s not all, we're also involved with and support future tax design for Wales.

Join a place with purpose

You’ll join a team of 100+ talented people from across 14 different professions. Our culture is best described as innovative, collaborative and kind. By working together, we’ll deliver a fair tax system for Wales.

Our people

You’ll be working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. From Operations, Policy, Digital and Data, HR, Communications to Finance – there’s a place for you in our friendly team.

You’ll be our greatest asset

You’ll be joining an inclusive organisation and be part of a team where you can thrive, be rewarded and heard.

We’re recognised as one of the top organisations for people engagement in the Civil Service People Survey. Inclusion and fairness are one of our strongest areas, as well as pay and benefits – our People Survey results say it all!

We’re also recognised for being innovative and a digital, ‘cloud-based’ organisation that supports hybrid and flexible working enabling a great work-life balance.

More about working for us, our roles and our Corporate Plan 2025 - 2028 .

Job description

You will play a central role in shaping the long-term direction of strategy and tax policy in WRA. This is a new role focused on WRA’s existing and future strategic approach and will be key in shaping and driving forward delivery of WRA’s objectives. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation in an impactful role.

You will support the development of the WRA corporate strategy and business planning. This high-impact role will ensure that WRA’s approach is future-focused, evidence-led, and aligned with ministerial priorities and the Welsh way of doing tax.

You’ll take a leading role in ensuring and embedding the WRA’s approach to new regulatory requirements, helping to futureproof the organisation and ensure we continue to deliver with “Our Approach” in mind.

The WRA has been growing and this is a new role which you will be able to shape it as it develops. You will gain a unique insight into how the work of government is delivered on the ground by working closely with colleagues in operational delivery, legal, and digital and data. You will influence at senior levels in WRA, the Welsh Treasury and with Ministers.

You will also support thinking on and development of tax legislation and longer term tax administration policy as well as the design of possible new WRA functions/services, working closely with Welsh Government partners and key stakeholders to explore the WRA’s future role.

“This is an exciting time for the development of the WRA and this new role plays a crucial part in shaping the future of our organisation. We’re looking for someone to take our policy and strategy development to the next level as we prepare to take on new functions and ensure our framework is fit for the future.”

- Dave Matthews, Strategy & Capability Director

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

Strategy development and business planning

You will:

• Support development of the next WRA Corporate Plan (anticipated in 2028), “Our Charter” and the annual WRA business plan, ensuring that in-year activity clearly aligns with delivery of longer-term corporate plan objectives
• Horizon scan for impacts that may affect the business plan or Corporate plan, and consider how performance against plans is measured appropriately, providing updates to senior leaders as needed
• Support in the development and drafting of the WRA Annual Report & Accounts
• Undertake research, horizon scanning and long-term planning to identify risks and opportunities that affect the WRA
• Build a cross-WRA understanding of the potential impacts new taxes or services may have on our existing functions and powers
• Help develop and refine existing practices and strategies towards WRA’s compliance with existing and new legislative duties, including Equality Impact Assessments, Health Impact Assessments and the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act
• Advise and influence WRA colleagues to ensure continued compliance with such duties, and helping develop appropriate monitoring and reporting tools

Policy development

You will:

• Support policy development on the design and delivery of new tax legislation, from developing proposals for change to supporting the legislative process.
• Work with Welsh Treasury and other Welsh Government teams to develop policy relating to possible new WRA functions and/or services, with a particular view of doing so in line with WRA strategies.

Building a network

You will:

• Develop constructive relationships with colleagues across the WRA and wider Welsh Government to form a collaborative approach across multidisciplinary teams
• Develop and enhance relationships with external stakeholders who can influence WRA strategy as well as the design of new taxes and services
• Build on existing relationships, as well as new ones, to help WRA remain compliant with regulatory changes and learn from best practice elsewhere and adapt it for a WRA approach
• Communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries. Make complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences
• Participate in training and awareness building across the WRA ensuring different audiences understand their roles in respect of various impact assessments and other standards the WRA works under

You may also get involved in corporate projects, supporting the continuous development of the WRA, as we seek to share our expertise and build our collective capability

Candidate information Session

If this seems like a role you’d be interested in, join us for our virtual Candidate Information Sessions. You’ll meet the Line Manager, get an overview of the role as well a feeling for what it’s like to work at the WRA. We’ll also talk through our benefits and provide helpful tips for your application with us. Please register for one of the sessions below:

Register here for 9th September at 12.30pm: https://SeniorPolicyandStrategyAdvisor.eventbrite.co.uk

Register here for 9th September at 16.00pm - https://SeniorPolicyandStrategyAdvisor4pm.eventbrite.co.uk

We recommend you review the job description (or candidate pack) under the 'attachments' section before completing your application.

Languages

We’ve undertaken an objective assessment of the Welsh language skills needed to undertake the duties of this role. For this role:

Welsh language skills - Welsh skills are not essential. This means that you do not need Welsh language skills to undertake