Head of Monument Conservation

Job summary

This role is responsible for ensuring Cadw’s 132 historic monuments across Wales, in state care are in good condition, accessible and safe for visitors.

The role will be responsible for ensuring Cadw always knows what the general condition of its monuments are, and which maintenance and remedial work is a priority.

The role will be responsible for a system of regular inspections to ensure monuments are safe and required maintenance / remedial issues are known and mitigation planned.

The role will be responsible for developing Cadw’s in-house direct labour craft team of masons and joiners, including trainees, into a robust, well trained and supported team.

There are approximately 30 people in this team, mostly craft skilled masons and joiners.

Job description

• Lead and inspire a team of approximately 30 people dedicated to the conservation of Cadw’s monuments and their setting. Ensure work priorities are clear and can be monitored for progress quarterly, that robust training and development plans are in place and all teams have access to the resources/ equipment they need to do their job effectively.
• Take responsibility for developing a robust system to monitor the condition of all Cadw’s monuments, using the knowledge to plan a three-year rolling programme of prioritised conservation work and the budget required to deliver this programme, whether this is delivered through the in-house Cadwraeth team or through the appointment of external consultants or contractors.
• Ensure Briefs or Invitations to Tender for condition reporting or digital measured surveys are clear and benchmarked to current industry standards.
• Review the current ‘SafetyCulture’ inspection system Cadw uses to log issues of condition at monuments to ensure it is providing best value.
• Lead on climate mitigation and adaptation for Cadw’s monuments in care.
• Be responsible for managing the teams annual spend within the set team budget.
• Work closely with the Head of Conservation Projects to ensure new projects are based on a sound understanding of monument condition.
• Work closely with the Head of Health and Safety within Properties in Care to ensure team work programmes are tackling high priority safety issues.
• Be responsible for the effective deployment of the Conservation Design and Project Manager and Historic Monuments Ground Manager within the team.
• Take responsibility for effective recruitment, to keep vacancies to a minimum and ensure all issues relating to the effective management of people are dealt with efficiently.
• Directly procure, or support the procurement of, external consultants or contractors to carry out maintenance and remedial conservation projects as required. Ensure best value for money and excellent quality work. Cadw has 3 Conservation Projects staff: this role will not therefore be expected to manage the large complex projects.
• Develop and maintain an attractive trainee programme for masons and joiners.
• Maintain close working relationships with comparative posts in other UK heritage organisations to ensure Cadw learns from best practice.

Person specification

• Will benefit from Welsh Government training courses and opportunities.
• Training will be supported for courses related to the post.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Proven track record of developing and delivering technical building conservation projects and maintenance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,098, Welsh Government contributes £17,700 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, Experience and Technical skills.

Required Qualification

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or hold a post graduate qualification in a discipline related to historic building conservation and, be a full member or eligible to be a full member of registered as an architect with the Architects Registration Board (ARB), CIOB, RICS or IHBC.

CV

The CV should focus on your background working on significant historic buildings. The CV should also detail any professional qualifications in historic building conservation related disciplines, as well as membership in relevant professional organisations.

CVs will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.

Location

Cadw offices are in South-East Wales in Cathays Park, Cardiff and Welsh Government Office, Merthyr Tydfil and North Wales at Llandudno Junction.

This post requires travel across Wales along with attendance at management, team and board meetings which will require regular overnight stays.

Many Cadw sites are in remote locations not easily accessible by public transport, therefore a full driving licence is required.

Interview

If your application is successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview at the Welsh Government building, Merthyr.

A presentation on Experience 1 will be required at ‘interview stage’. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

Merit Order

If after interview stage, there are successful candidates with the same score to determine merit order, the panel will first review interview score for experience 1 and then technical skills 1.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: 'Experience 1'. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

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

Security

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 : cadw.hr@gov.wales
• Email : cadw.hr@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales