Senior Corporate Planning Manager

Job summary

About Us

We are an arm’s length body of the Welsh Government, responsible for the strategy, funding and oversight of:

• further education
• higher education including research and innovation;
• apprenticeships
• adult community learning; and local authority maintained school sixth forms.

We work in close collaboration with our partners to enable a tertiary education and research system which is centred around the needs of learners; society; and economy with excellence, equality and engagement at its heart.

Our values really matter to us, they help shape the culture of our organisation:

• Dysgu (to learn; to teach; to educate) - learning is at the heart of everything we do. We believe curiosity fuels innovation and helps expand our horizons.
• Cydweithio (to work together; to collaborate; to co-operate) - we can achieve far more together than we ever could alone.
• Cynnwys Pawb (to include everyone; to involve everyone) - we are passionate about inclusion, seeking to create the right conditions for everyone to achieve their full potential.
• Rhagori (to exceed; to excel) - we have high aspirations for tertiary education and research in Wales and always set high standards for ourselves to be the best we can be.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and accredited as a Living Wage employer.

Location

Our headquarters is in 2, Capital Quarter, Cardiff, which has been specifically designed to meet our needs. This is where most colleagues will meet to collaborate, both with each other and with stakeholders.

As we operate across Wales, we also have limited office and collaboration space in Welsh Government offices in Llandudno Junction, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil.

Main Purpose of the Job

Informed by risk and impact assessments, you will lead the delivery of Operational Planning across Medr, supporting colleagues to prioritise activities in their area that enables Medr to deliver on its strategic ambitions for tertiary education and research in Wales.

Job description

What you'll be doing

• Lead on the coordination of our Operational Plan, working collaboratively with operational leads across Medr to develop a coherent Plan and underpinning Team Plans, reporting to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Support the Head of Board Secretariat and Corporate Planning with Annual Reporting.
• Work with the Statistics and Analysis Directorate to ensure that Medr’s Operational Planning process links to our ability to measuring performance.
• Provide guidance and support to teams across Medr with short-term projects that deliver on Operational Plan commitments.
• Implement and keep under review Medr’s integrated impact assess process, supporting Medr colleagues with the process.
• Implement and keep under review Medr’s risk management policy, coordinating the update of Medr’s Corporate Risk Register.
• Work with our colleagues in our Digital directorate to develop intuitive reporting tools for Medr.

Key Challenges

• Supporting and challenging colleagues across Medr to consider a whole organisational approach to our Operational Plan delivery, ensuring focus on delivering our long-term ambitions for tertiary education and research in Wales.
• Developing a culture that incorporates integrated impact assessments as a key tool for developing good quality policies.
• Ensuring that Corporate Risks are regularly reviewed and updated.
• Being flexible to support a range of project needs across the organisation.
• Involving colleagues across the organisation in the development of new reporting tools.

About your team

You will be part of the Board Secretariat and Corporate Governance Team responsible for the delivery of Medr’s corporate planning and reporting, risk management and governance, including both corporate governance and the governance of the Board.

You will have responsibility for the line management of up to 2 members of staff.

About your line manager

Steve Williams, Head of Board Secretariat and Corporate Planning.

I have worked in tertiary education for more than 12 years, having previously worked for the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, in a variety of policy, regulation and planning roles. I live near Cardiff, mixing my week between working at home and in Medr’s Headquarters in Cardiff. When not working, I spend most of my time being a taxi driver for my daughter.

Person specification

What you'll bring

Attributes

• Reflective. You critically assess your decisions and actions, seeking to learn from both successes and failures.
• Dynamic. You encourage a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, encouraging experimentation and learning
• Accountable. You ensure clear goals and priorities are set for your team, holding yourself and others accountable for performance and outcomes.
• Empathetic. You promote a culture of empathy and inclusivity, where every voice is heard and respected.

Experience

• Working in a corporate planning or risk role, with experience of applying the breadth of requirements placed on a public body such as impact assessments.
• Delivering change in collaboration with a range of stakeholders.

Technical

A recognised project or programme management qualification would be desirable.

Welsh Language requirements

We have evaluated that the Welsh language requirements for this post are:

Desirable

Welsh desirable means that while having Welsh language skills is useful for the role, it is not an assessment criterion, so it won’t disadvantage you during recruitment if you don’t currently possess these skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,301, Medr contributes £14,282 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).

Your Perks and Benefits

We recognise the importance of looking after ourselves in work and in life, so in recognition of this we provide:

• 34 days annual leave a year (pro rata)
• An environment that embraces work life balance.
• A culture that celebrates diversity and welcomes everyone.
• Dedicated well-being time to all our people each week.
• A Cycle to Work Scheme to make owning a bicycle more affordable.
• Lifestyle savings scheme and discounts on everyday essentials.

Additional Support when you need it

We know that sometimes you may face challenges or life events that mean you need additional support.

• We provide a comprehensive employee assistance programme with remote access to resources and in person support whenever required.
• We have a special leave policy ensuring everyone in the organisation receives the support they need during difficult times.

More than just a workplace

• You will be entitled to take 5 days paid leave per year to undertake voluntary work to support the communities we serve.
• We will encourage you to grow your networks across Wales, the UK and internationally.
• We have an active social committe