Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor

Job summary

We’re responsible for Land Transaction Tax and Landfill Disposals Tax. Our work raises revenue to support public services, like the NHS and schools, in communities across Wales. But that’s not all, we're also involved with and support future tax design for Wales.

Join a place with purpose
You’ll join a team of 100+ talented people from across 14 different professions. Our culture is best described as innovative, collaborative and kind. By working together, we’ll deliver a fair tax system for Wales.

Our people
You’ll be working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. From Operations, Policy, Digital and Data, HR, Communications to Finance – there’s a place for you in our friendly team.

You’ll be our greatest asset

You’ll be joining an inclusive organisation and be part of a team where you can thrive, be rewarded and heard.

We’re recognised as one of the top organisations for people engagement in the Civil Service People Survey. Inclusion and fairness are one of our strongest

areas, as well as pay and benefits – our People Survey results say it all!

We’re also recognised for being innovative and a digital, ‘cloud-based’ organisation that supports hybrid and flexible working enabling a great work-life balance.

More about working for us, our roles and our Corporate Plan 2025 - 2028 .

Job description

You will play a central role in shaping the long-term direction of tax policy in WRA. Your initial focus will be policy development supporting implementation of the visitor levy in Wales, together with national registration of visitor holiday accommodation. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new project for the WRA, advising on a completely new tax and establishing new ways of working with our partners and stakeholders.

You will also support development of WRA corporate strategy and business planning. This high-impact role will ensure that WRA’s approach is future-focused, evidence-led, and aligned with ministerial priorities and the Welsh way of doing tax.

This is a new role and you will be able to shape it as it develops. You will gain a unique insight into how the work of government is delivered on the ground by working closely with colleagues in operational delivery, legal, and digital and data. You will influence at senior levels in WRA, the Welsh Treasury and with Ministers.

You will also support thinking on longer term tax administration policy and the design of possible new WRA functions/services, working closely with Welsh Government partners and key stakeholders to explore the WRA’s future role.

“This is an exciting time for the development of the WRA and this new role plays a crucial part in shaping the future of our organisation. We’re looking for someone to take our policy and strategy development to the next level as we prepare to take on new functions and ensure our legislative framework is fit for the future.”

- Dave Matthews, Strategy & Capability Director

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

Policy development

You will:

· Provide high quality technical advice and guidance on the practical application of the visitor levy (VL) and national registration (NR) to resolve uncertainty, ensuring future WRA decisions are made and communicated in a way that is sound, clear and lawful.

· Lead development of evidence-based policy on VL and NR, using data and analysis to identify and address issues early, resolving complexity to ensure that they operate as intended.

· Understand and resolve technical policy disagreements, solving issues and unblocking problems

· Review WRA decisions where challenged by taxpayers and support colleagues to build tax and technical capability.

· Support policy development on the design and delivery of new tax legislation, from developing proposals for change to supporting the legislative process.

· Work with Welsh Treasury and other Welsh Government teams to develop policy relating to possible new WRA functions and/or services.

Strategy development and business planning

You will:

· Support development of the next WRA Corporate Plan (anticipated in 2028)

· Support development of the annual WRA business plan, ensuring that in-year activity clearly aligns with delivery of longer-term corporate plan objectives

· Undertake research, horizon scanning and long-term planning to identify risks and opportunities that affect the WRA

· Build a cross-WRA understanding of the potential impacts new taxes or services may have on our existing functions and powers

· Advise and influence WRA colleagues to ensure continued compliance with our broader legislative duties, e.g. Wellbeing of Future Generations Act, Equality and Health Impact Assessments.

Building a network

You will:

· Develop constructive relationships with colleagues across the WRA and wider Welsh Government to form a collaborative approach across multidisciplinary teams

· Develop and enhance relationships with external stakeholders who can influence the design of new taxes and services

· Communicate effectively across organisational, technical and political boundaries. Make complex and technical information and language simple and accessible for non-technical audiences

You may also get involved in corporate projects, supporting the continuous development of the WRA, as we seek to share our expertise and build our collective capability.

Candidate Information Session

If this seems like a role you’d be interested in, join us for our virtual Candidate Information Sessions. You’ll meet the Line Manager, get an overview of the role as well a feeling for what it’s like to work at the WRA. We’ll also talk through our benefits and provide helpful tips for your application with us. Please register for one of the sessions below:

17 February 2026 at 13.30pm - Register here: Business Wales Events Finder - Candidate Information Session - Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor

17 February 2026 at 4.00pm - Register here: Business Wales Events Finder - Candidate Information Session - Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor

Languages

We’ve undertaken an objective assessment of the Welsh language skills needed to undertake the duties of this role. For this role:

Welsh language skills
Welsh skills are not essential. This means that you do not need Welsh language skills to undertake this role and these skills won’t be assessed during the recruitment process. However, we actively encourage all staff to learn, or improve their Welsh language skills and offer a range of opportunities to suit everyone.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,675, Welsh Revenue Authority 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.

• 31 days annual leave + Bank holidays, and 2 Privilege days
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Generous employer pension schemes with a contribution of up to 28.97%
• Tusker car scheme
• Vivup Cycle2Work and advances of salary for season Travel Tickets
• Lifestyle Benefits offering discounts on shopping, restaurants and entertainment
• Wellbeing hour each week
• Access to subsidised sports groups
• Generous family-friendly leave policies
• Free Welsh language courses and time off to learn
• Access to a range of staff diversity networks
• Free counselling and support service via our Vivup Employee Assistance Programme and Your Care Health platform
• A thriving culture that’s described as innovative, collaborative and kind.

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

We’ll always be clear about how we assess your application, at each stage of the process. This will usually include:

• Assessment of your Application Form and CV against the relevant Success Criteria
• A panel interview (if you’re successful at the initial sift stage)
• If any additional assessments are needed for this role, such as a test or presentation at interview, we’ll let you know in advance.
• Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift will be conducted using the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Leader so we’ll ask you if you need any adjustments at each stage of the recruitment process. So that we can support you in a way that works for you, we’ll offer a pre-interview accessibility chat to anyone that declares a disability or needs any adjustments. This will take place with someone who is independent of the recruitment process and you won’t be placed at any disadvantage as a result of needing adjustments.

Whilst the use of Generative AI (GenAI) isn’t prohibited, it must be used carefully and your application must be factually accurate. It should be noted that presenting ideas and experience generated by artificial intelligence as your own, may be considered plagiarism.

A reserve list may be held for this role for applicants that have scored above the appointable threshold at interview. This means that if a similar vacancy becomes available in the next 12 months we may contact you to offer you the role.

Success criteria

Behaviours

Criteria

Assessed in personal statement and CV

Assessed during interview or assessment

Seeing the big Picture

Understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders. Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.

Yes

Yes

Delivering at pace

Act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain performance

Yes

Yes

Making effective decisions

Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from internal and external sources to support decisions. Present strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.

Yes

Yes

Strengths

Criteria

Assessed in personal statement and CV

Assessed during interview or assessment

Networker

You proactively create and maintain positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the organisation.

No

Yes

Explainer

You communicate thoughts and ideas, verbally or in writing. You simplify complexities and adapt communication so others can understand

No

Yes

Challenger

You can bring a fresh perspective whatever the situation or context. You see other people’s views and appreciate that there are many different angles to consider

No

Yes

Experience

Criteria

Assessed in personal statement and CV

Assessed during interview or assessment

Experience of policy or strategy development

Yes

No

An ability to quickly build expertise in tax legislation

No

Yes

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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

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

Job contact :

• Name : WRA Recruitment Team
• Email : Recruitment@wra.gov.wales
• Telephone : 03000254000

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitment@wra.gov.wales

Further information

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition. See the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles where this is set out.
If you feel your application has not been treated in line with the recruitment principles, and you wish to complain, you should contact the Head of HR.
Email: hr@wra.gov.wales
If you’re not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission

Attachments

Job description - Senior Policy & Strategy Advisor (FINAL) en Opens in new window (pdf, 321kB)Disgrifiad swydd - Uwch Gynghorydd Polisi a Strategaeth (FINAL)-cy_gb Opens in new window (pdf, 329kB)