ID 3944
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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
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Vacancy details
Vacancy title
Director of Safety & Operations for the Disused Tips Authority - Salary range £82,089 - £99,500
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Closing date
02/09/2026, 16:00
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Advertising basis
Permanent, Secondment
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Actual starting salary
Starting salary: £82,089 per annum. The role sits within a pay range that extends to £99,500, with progression subject to the Authority's pay arrangements. Please note that, whilst these roles will initially be hosted by the Welsh Government, Executive Director posts within the Disused Tips Authority are subject to the Authority's own pay and reward arrangements. The Welsh Government salary scales displayed alongside this vacancy do not apply to these roles. For candidates who can demonstrate exceptional skills, experience and expertise, there may be scope to appoint above the advertised starting salary, up to the maximum of the approved pay range, subject to the Authority's pay arrangements and relevant approvals.
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Salary range or pay band
Other
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Allowances
No
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Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
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Group
Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group
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Directorate
Climate Change & Env Sustainability
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Branch
Disused Tips Authority
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Location (s)
Other location (including outside of Wales)
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Specific Location
Location: Merthyr Tydfil (DTA Headquarters). The Disused Tips Authority's headquarters will be based in Merthyr Tydfil. When the Authority is established on 1 April 2027, a number of regional hubs will also be available across Wales; however, Merthyr Tydfil will remain the organisation's headquarters.
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Purpose of post
Build Wales’ New National Regulator. Protect Communities. Leave a Lasting Legacy
Everyone in Wales deserves to feel safe from the risks posed by unstable disused tips.
The Disused Tips Authority is being established under the Disused Mine and Quarry Tips (Wales) Act 2025 to provide national leadership for the safety, management and regulation of disused tips. As Wales' new national regulator, the Authority will deliver a consistent, evidence-led and risk-based approach to managing disused tip risk and helping to protect communities across Wales.
Within this context, the Director of Safety & Operations plays a pivotal executive leadership role in ensuring that the Authority delivers its core purpose — keeping people safe from disused tip risk — consistently, effectively and with confidence.
This role is fundamental to creating an organisation where:
Risk is clearly understood, prioritised and actively managed
Operational activity is coordinated, evidence-based and effective
Safety is embedded in decision-making and organisational behaviour
Delivery is consistent, resilient and able to respond to emerging risks
As a member of the Executive Team, the postholder has a critical leadership role in setting operational tone, shaping delivery culture and modelling behaviours that put safety, accountability and professionalism at the heart of the organisation.
For further information about the organisation, please see: Help build a new public body for Wales: Disused Tips Authority for Wales
For full details of the role, the assessment process, and guidance on what to expect at each stage of selection, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack available at: Disused Tips Authority for Wales | Candidate Information Pack | 2026 Recruitment Campaign
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Key tasks
As Director of Safety & Operations, you will provide executive leadership for the Authority's operational delivery, ensuring Wales has a safe, consistent and effective approach to managing disused tip risk.
As one of the Authority's founding Executive Directors, you will play a leading role in establishing a new national regulator, shaping both the organisation and the services it delivers to protect Welsh communities
You will:
Lead the design and delivery of a nationally consistent, risk-based operational model.
Oversee assessment, categorisation, inspection, monitoring and intervention activity.
Ensure risks are identified, prioritised and managed through evidence-led decision making.
Provide strategic assurance to the Chief Executive, Board and Welsh Government on operational performance and public safety.
Build strong partnerships across Wales to strengthen resilience and protect communities.
You will help create a trusted, resilient and high-performing public body that makes a lasting difference to the safety of communities across Wales.
What we're looking for
We're seeking an experienced executive leader who has successfully led complex operational services within a safety-critical, regulatory or infrastructure environment.
You will bring:
A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. engineering, geotechnical engineering, environmental science, infrastructure management or a related field), or can you demonstrate equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical field.
A track record of building high-performing teams and improving organisational performance.
The ability to make sound, evidence-based decisions in complex and high-profile environments.
Experience of working with Boards, Ministers and senior stakeholders.
Strong partnership, communication and influencing skills.
A commitment to collaborative leadership, continuous improvement and public service.
A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience. Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body is desirable.
For full details of the role, the assessment process, and guidance on what to expect at each stage of selection, please refer to the Candidate Information Pack available at: Director of Safety & Operations Candidate Information Pack - 2026 Recruitment Campaign
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Development opportunities
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help establish a new national public body and leave a lasting legacy for the people of Wales.
As a founding Executive Director, you will have the opportunity to:
Shape a new organisation from the ground up, influencing its strategy, culture, governance and operating model.
Lead a nationally significant public safety function, delivering real and measurable outcomes for communities across Wales.
Work at the highest levels of public service, engaging directly with the Chief Executive, Board, Ministers, Welsh Government and key stakeholders.
Influence how Wales manages risk and public safety, helping to establish a modern, evidence-led and innovative approach to tip management.
Develop your executive leadership capability, gaining experience of organisational growth, transformation and system-wide leadership.
Build a lasting legacy, creating an organisation that will protect communities and critical infrastructure for generations to come.
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Other vacancy related information
Establishing the Disused Tips Authority
The Disused Tips Authority (DTA) will become fully operational on 1 April 2027. We are recruiting now for a number of senior leadership roles to help shape the organisation, build its capability and culture, and prepare the Authority to assume its statutory responsibilities from day one.This is a unique opportunity to join the DTA during its formative stages and play a key role in establishing a new public body for Wales.
Important: The Disused Tips Authority is a separate organisation from the Welsh Government. Please disregard any Welsh Government guidance, policies, or recruitment information linked within this advert and refer to the accompanying Candidate Information Pack for the information relevant to this vacancy.
Employment Arrangements
As the Disused Tip Authority will not formally exist until 1 April 2027, these roles will initially be hosted by the Welsh Government.Successful candidates will be employed by the Welsh Government until 31 March 2027 while working exclusively on the establishment of the Disused Tip Authority. From 1 April 2027, employees will transfer to the new Authority as it becomes operational.Throughout this transition, continuity of employment will be maintained. Successful candidates will initially be employed on Welsh Government terms and conditions. The DTA's proposed terms and conditions are included within the Candidate Pack, and employees will have the opportunity to move onto these arrangements following the Authority's establishment.
Secondment Opportunities and Eligibility Requirements
Candidates should note that this post is also being offered as a Permanent Opportunity and a Secondment opportunity.
If you would like to apply via a Secondment the below eligibility guidance, will apply.
Eligibility Verification:
All Secondment Applications will be assessed against the below stated criteria.
You must obtain prior agreement from your employer to be released on secondment before applying. Please ensure you have line management approval.
You must hold a substantive permanent post with your current employer.
During the secondment, you will remain on the terms, conditions, and payroll of your home organisation.
Inward secondees are not eligible for Disused Tips Authority pay awards or rewards.
Location
The Authority's headquarters will be located at Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ. This will be the principal place of work and where most colleagues will come together to collaborate with one another and with stakeholders.
The successful candidate will be expected to attend the office in Merthyr Tydfil regularly to support collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
On-call working
As part of this role, you will be required to participate in the Authority's out-of-hours on-call rota to provide strategic leadership and support in response to operational incidents and emergencies. An on-call allowance will be payable in accordance with the Authority's On-call and Standby Policy.
Vehicle arrangements
You won't be expected to use your own vehicle to access disused tips or carry out your inspection duties. A suitable vehicle will be provided. We're currently finalising the arrangements and will provide further details during the recruitment process.
Assessment
Our assessment process is designed to evaluate candidates against three core areas: technical capability, values and leadership.
Stage 1 - Leadership and Technical capability to be tested via CV and Leadership Statement
Stage 2 - Leadership, Technical Capability and Our Values to be tested via interview (including a presentation, psychometric testing and an informal conversation with board member)
Please refer to the candidate pack for further detail.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Leadership Expectations. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for these opportunities.Candidates offered reserve status will remain on the reserve list until the Disused Tips Authority is established in April 2027. Those placed on the reserve list will only be considered for opportunities within the Disused Tips Authority and will not be considered for Welsh Government vacancies.
Desirable
The following qualities are desirable and will only be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage:
1. To hold, or be working towards, Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body relevant to the role
2. Welsh Language - the Disused Tips Authority is committed to operating as a bilingual organisation and to providing services in both Welsh and English. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and to play an active role in promoting and normalising the use of Welsh in the workplace.We welcome applications from Welsh speakers and from individuals who are committed to developing their Welsh language skills. We will support colleagues at all levels to learn, use and increase their confidence in Welsh as part of their day-to-day work, helping to build a truly bilingual organisation.
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Vetting level
Basic
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Number of posts
1
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Contact point for further information regarding the post
[email protected]
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