Job Description

Details

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Reference number

419618

Salary

29,856 - 35,439
Please note, the starting salary will normally be offered at the minimum of the pay band.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Other
Officer level on Medr's grade, equivalent to EO

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-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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Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Llandudno Junction, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea

About the job

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Job summary

About us

We are a new arm's length body of the Welsh Government, responsible for the strategy, funding and oversight of:

further education including colleges and school sixth-forms; higher education including research and innovation; adult education and adult community learning; and apprenticeships and training.

Operational since 1 August 2024, 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.

Location

Our headquarters is a newly refurbished office in Capital Quarter, Cardiff, specifically designed to meet our needs. We expect this to be the place that most colleagues will use to collaborate, both with each other and with stakeholders.


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

Main purpose of the job

Are you passionate about using data to drive excellence and ensure public funds are used effectively? As a key member of our Coordination and Performance team, you'll directly support our Senior Managers in optimising apprenticeship programs across Wales. This vital role puts you at the heart of ensuring program compliance, developing effective systems, and safeguarding public funds.


You'll be instrumental in analysing data and evidence, providing Medr with the assurance that investments deliver best value and make a real difference to learners' lives. If you're a meticulous with a knack for identifying insights and a commitment to public service, we invite you to contribute to shaping the future of apprenticeships in Wales.

Job description

What you'll be doing

Key Responsibilities:

Perform desktop assessments of apprenticeship training providers to validate payment claims. This includes analysing data, receiving and checking self-assessment returns, sampling data, and examining supporting evidence to ensure compliance with program specifications and contracts. Where appropriate, conduct extended analysis and sampling to support senior managers with enhanced monitoring. Support Senior Managers to conduct system checks of the Apprenticeship Commissioned Contract Holders (CCH). Where appropriate support Senior Managers in cases of non-compliance in the commissioning and management of external auditors to conduct in-depth investigations. Support Senior Managers to develop a time bound action plan to address remedial action as necessary and monitor progress towards achievement of this plan with CCH. Assist Senior Managers in conducting ad-hoc investigations and addressing special assignments related to apprenticeships, including those arising from whistle-blowing allegations or other complaints/requests to Medr. Support Senior Performance and Coordination Managers with the production and presentation of draft and final audit reports

Stakeholder Engagement:

Support the development and maintenance of positive relationships with CCHs, serving as the shared ACP Apprenticeship mailbox point of contact for inquiries and support. Work with the Coordination and Performance team to gather provider needs. Contribute to the identification of effective practices, support the challenge of existing models, and promote collaboration. Support the development of strong provider relationships to ensure the sector meets its strategic goals.

Collaboration and Reporting:

Collaborate with internal teams, including quality, policy and data to share information and ensure alignment. Contribute to the preparation of reports and presentations on provider performance, highlighting key findings and recommendations.

Risk Management Assistance:

Assist with the gathering of data for risk assessments. Help to implement intervention strategies.

Key challenges

Supporting Compliance: Supporting providers in adhering to funding requirements and regulations, and escalating instances of non-compliance.


Data Management Support: Contributing to the handling and analysis of substantial apprenticeship-related data, including performance metrics and financial records.


Data Interpretation Support: Supporting the translation of complex data into actionable insights.

About your team

The Coordination & Performance Team is responsible for ensuring tertiary education providers deliver provision aligned with Medr's strategic plan and Welsh Government priorities.


This involves driving performance improvement, fostering collaboration, and managing the development, implementation and monitoring of the Tertiary Provision Plan to inform Medr funding and policy drivers.


You will report to the Senior Performance and Coordination Manager.

Person specification

What you'll bring

Attributes

Curiosity

- You ask insightful questions and seek to understand complex issues.

Resilient -

You adapt effectively to change and persevere to achieve goals in demanding situations.

Inspire people -

You lead by example and seek out opportunities to motivate and develop yourself and others.

Agile

- You navigate complex situations with ease and efficiency.

Experience

Please include in your personal statement why you are interested in the role and experience in this area of work. Experience of working in the tertiary sector particularly in the apprenticeship area Experience of working in an environment where you have demonstrated attention to detail and excellent initiative

Welsh language requirements

For this post the Welsh language requirements are:


Desirable


Welsh desirable means that whilst 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

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Alongside your salary of 29,856, Medr contributes 8,649 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Your Perks and Benefits

We recognise the importance of looking after ourselves in work and in life. Your wellbeing is fundamental to you being your best self so in recognition of this we provide:

33 days annual leave a year (pro rata) to give you time to reboot; top up your energy banks and spend time doing the activities you love. An environment that embraces work life balance. A culture that celebrates diversity and welcomes everyone. Dedicated wellbeing time to all our people each week. A Cycle to Work Scheme to make owning a bicycle more affordable.

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

We have an active sport, social and wellbeing committee who offer a range of activities for our people to come together outside the work setting. You can participate as much or as little as you want. You will be entitled to take 5 days paid leave per year to undertake voluntary work to support the communities we serve. We know that the bonds we make in work sometimes go beyond the working day and lead to networks that last for life. We will encourage you to grow your networks across Wales, the UK and internationally.

Personal and professional development

Once you're offered a post, we will get to know you and work with you to develop a personalised onboarding plan which considers your experience, skills, learning style and knowledge. We'll help you shape your development plans with personalised career conversations and objectives, taking account of delivery goals alongside your career aspirations and helping you own your career. We support all our staff to learn or improve their Welsh language skills.

Things you need to know

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Selection process details

We are really interested in you as an individual and what you will bring to our organisation.


Our blended assessment process is designed to help us get to know you better enabling us to appoint someone who will thrive in the role and who shares our organisational values.


If you are interested in working with us, please send us your application through Civil Service Jobs.


You will need to include a personal statement demonstrating how you meet the essential requirements for the post.


To be fair to everyone who applies, we won't accept:

Late applications Applications with missing or incomplete information Personal statements over 1,250 words

The deadline for application submission is

Wednesday 27 August.

There will be two assessment stages for this recruitment campaign. A sift and an interview.


The following attributes and experience will be assessed at sift and interview stage:

Attributes

Curiosity

- You ask insightful questions and seek to understand complex issues.

Resilient

- You adapt effectively to change and persevere to achieve goals in demanding situations.

Experience

Please include in your personal statement why you are interested in the role and experience in this area of work. Experience of working in the tertiary sector particularly in the apprenticeship area Experience of working in an environment where you have demonstrated attention to detail and excellent initiative

The initial sift will take place on

Monday 8 September

.


Candidates who successfully navigate the sift stage will be required to complete an online exercise to enable us to determine their behavioural and personality preferences. Immediately on completion you will be given a report which highlights your strengths plus some development tips to help you prepare for interview. Candidates should note that the online exercise is not intended to eliminate anyone from consideration. Instead, it serves as a tool to aid in the decision-making process.


Following this, you will be required to participate in an interview which will be conducted on

Tuesday 16 September.

The following attributes will also be assessed at interview:

Inspire people -

You lead by example and seek out opportunities to motivate and develop yourself and others

Agile

- You navigate complex situations with ease and efficiency.

We strive for a diverse and inclusive workplace and we want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. We are happy to discuss any person-centred adjustments required to the recruitment process. Please contact swyddi@medr.cymru


We're looking forward to meeting everyone invited to interview at our new headquarters in Capital Quarter, Cardiff. We don't usually pay travel expenses, but if this presents a real barrier to your attendance in person or if you require a reasonable adjustment, please let us know

in advance

by emailing swyddi@medr.cymru so we can discuss and agree arrangements prior to your interview.


Following interview we are committed to offering constructive and actionable feedback to support you on your future career journey.

Next steps

Interested
? Want to find out more?


We know how important it is for you to find out more about us so we will be holding a

virtual information session

for candidates on

Friday 1 August at 11am or Monday 18 August at 1pm

on Microsoft Teams.


This will be an opportunity for you to hear more about our organisation; the role and how we invest in our people.


If you would like to attend, register by emailing swyddi@medr.cymru.



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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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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The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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 : Swyddi Email : swyddi@medr.cymru
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Recruitment team

* Email : swyddi@medr.cymru