3735 - Housing Quality Standards - Architect

Job summary

To deliver in-house architect services which ensure that the quality and design of social housing in Wales is of the highest possible standards, and housing either built or retrofitted with public funds represent value for money. This includes appraisal of Welsh Government funded schemes such as either the Social Housing Grant and Optimised Retrofit Programme whilst also providing technical advice and guidance on new and existing sustainability standards.

Job description

A key part of the role is to provide professional technical support, and guidance, and advice to external stakeholders on meeting housing quality standards, as well as More Homes and Places Division and other Welsh Government divisions as required.

Person specification

• Contribute to development of decarbonisation of homes policy and development of standards, guidance and programmes to align with that policy.
• Monitor and review the quality of residential developments across all tenures, but in particular social housing.
• Audit and review funded schemes/projects both at proposal stage and at post completion to ensure value for money from publicly funded programmes.
• Provide balanced and impartial architectural advice to internal and external stakeholders to ensure high quality homes.
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the development, delivery and oversight of Welsh Housing Quality Standard, Optimised Retrofit Programme and other Social Housing Grant Programmes.
• Support the project management of research and development work commissioned as part of the above programmes.
• Provide balanced and impartial technical advice to Ministers, More Homes and Places Division and other Welsh Government departments.
• Develop strong and constructive working relationships with the housing sector including housing associations, local authorities, consultants, tenants groups and other housing professional.
• Support ministerial advice and guidance through the production of timely, high quality verbal and written briefing.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Fully qualified Registered Architect with a minimum of 2 years professional practice experience. Particular experience of retrofit works would be desirable.
• Significant technical&project management in new build/refurbishment of homes in ways that support decarbonisation goals & contribute to development of decarbonisation of homes policy & development of standards, guidance & programmes to align policy.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,675, Welsh Government contributes £13,811 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

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 candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Technical skills.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage processStage 1Application FormStage 2Interview

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) (opens in a new window)
• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.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

Job contact :

• Name : darren.hatton@gov.wales
• Email : darren.hatton@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : sharedservicehelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.