Job Description

Details

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Reference number

417855

Salary

77,019 - 90,068
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Grade 6

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

WP - Policy and Legislation Committee Service

Type of role

Other

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

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Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

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Cardiff

About the job

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Job summary

We are recruiting the Head of the Policy and Legislation Committee Service, based in the Senedd Business Directorate in the Senedd Commission.


The Senedd's committees have a broad range of policy, financial and legislative scrutiny functions. They hold the Welsh Government and associated bodies to account, undertaking inquiries, and gathering evidence into topics of importance to the people of Wales. The Senedd Commission's vision is that Senedd committees demonstrably improve the quality of policy outcomes, legislation, public services and government spending for society as a whole in Wales. A critical part of our work is to support committees to effectively engage with stakeholders and the public. Our approach will need to respond to the changing nature of democratic engagement in a digital world.


Constitutional change has and will continue to shape and influence the work of Committees. The nature of devolution in Wales, and the Senedd's position within the constitution of the UK, is continuing to evolve. The Senedd elections of May 2026 will mark the moment where a larger Senedd of 96 Members will be elected. This step change in the capacity of the Senedd presents new opportunities but also heightened public expectation in relation to the Senedd's scrutiny role. Committees will be at the forefront of the work of the newly-constituted Seventh Senedd.


The Policy and Legislation Committee Service provides procedural, policy and administrative support to the policy and legislation committees. We operate an integrated team model, an holistic approach to providing expertise and support for committees and committee members. The Service works closely with other clerks, researchers, lawyers, communications and translation staff as well as with colleagues across the Senedd Commission, particularly to reach out to and engage effectively with the people of Wales.

Job description

The role has three main elements:

Head of Service - leading and developing a high-performing team of around 35 staff to provide effective secretariat support for the Senedd's policy and legislation committees.. You will support the development of a positive and inclusive service and ensure that the right resources are in the right place at the right time. You will directly manage a team of committee clerks. Clerks lead teams providing procedural, policy and administrative support to individual committees, drawing on specialist support from across the Senedd Commission via integrated teams. Leadership Team member - working collaboratively with heads of service from the Senedd Business Directorate (comprising the Chamber and Committee Service; Policy and Legislation Committee Service; Legal Service; Research Service; and Strategic Transformation Service) and across the organisation to lead, motivate and support staff through a period of significant organisational change. Adopting a "one-team" approach to the delivery of priorities and services, reflecting our shared values. Senior adviser - providing impartial, robust procedural, policy and constitutional advice to the Llywydd (Presiding Officer), Committee Chairs, Senedd Members and staff on a range of matters relating to committees and related Senedd business.

Person specification

The job specific criteria below are either essential or desirable for this role.

A collaborative leadership approach and experience of managing multi-skilled teams of staff working in a high-pressure political environment or equivalent. Significant experience of providing expert, impartial policy and/or procedural advice to a range of stakeholders in a parliamentary organisation or equivalent. Experience of developing innovative methods for stakeholder and/or citizen engagement.

The following qualities are not essential for this particular post but have been deemed as desirable. These will only be taken into account in the event of two (or more) candidates acquiring the same score at either application or interview stage.

Knowledge and experience of legislative processes. High-level understanding of Senedd Cymru, Welsh Government and public service in Wales and the context within which they operate.

Benefits

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Alongside your salary of 77,019, Welsh Parliament contributes 22,312 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

Details of the Selection Process

: Candidates are required to complete an application form through our recruitment portal addressing the job specific and desirable criteria.

Closing Date for applications:

11 August 2025.

Your application must be submitted before midnight on the closing date.


You will be updated on your progress via the email address you first register with. Please check your Junk Mail and Spam folders to make sure you don't miss any future correspondence.

Interviews will be held in person during the week commending 8 September 2025.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .



See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

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Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

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Job contact :

Name : Julian Luke Email : julian.luke@senedd.wales
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Recruitment team

Email : jobs@senedd.wales

Further information

https://senedd.wales/work-opportunities/