ID 4049
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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
Head of Communications, Engagement & Partnerships for the Disused Tips Authority Salary range - £61,098 - £78,449
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Closing date
08/09/2026, 16:00
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Advertising basis
Permanent, Secondment
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Actual starting salary
Starting salary: £61,098 per annum. The role sits within a pay range that extends to £78,449, 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
Specific 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
Help shape the voice of one of Wales' newest public organisations.
The Disused Tips Authority for Wales is being established as the national public body responsible for overseeing the safety, management and regulation of disused tips across Wales. Operating in a high-profile, safety-critical environment, our success will depend not only on the quality of our technical work, but on the trust and confidence we build with the communities we serve, our partners and the wider public.
As Head of Communications & Partnerships, you will play a critical leadership role in establishing that trust from day one. You will shape how the Authority communicates, engages and builds relationships, ensuring people understand our purpose, our decisions and the actions we take to keep communities safe. Your work will help create confidence through clear, transparent and consistent communication, particularly when discussing complex issues and risk.
This is a broad strategic role. Alongside leading all aspects of communications, engagement and stakeholder partnerships, you will be responsible for translating the Board's strategic vision into the Authority's Corporate Plan, ensuring our priorities are clearly articulated and aligned across the organisation.
The role is both inward and outward facing:
Internally, you will create a shared sense of purpose, helping colleagues understand our strategy, values and priorities.
Externally, you will build trusted relationships with communities, partners, government and stakeholders, strengthening confidence in the Authority and its work.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the voice, reputation and strategic direction of a new national organisation, helping establish the Disused Tips Authority as a trusted public body and a recognised centre of excellence in public safety, engagement and transparent communication.
Important: The Disused Tips Authority for Wales will be established as an independent Welsh Public Body and separate legal entity on 1 April 2027. Until then, these roles will be hosted by the Welsh Government, providing a unique opportunity to help create and shape a new national organisation from the outset.
Successful candidates will initially be employed by the Welsh Government before transferring to the Disused Tips Authority when it becomes operational on 1 April 2027, with continuity of employment maintained throughout.
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 information relevant to this vacancy.
To learn more about the Authority's purpose, ambitions, culture, values, benefits and recruitment journey, please review the Candidate Information Pack and recruitment video.
Help build a new public body for Wales: Disused Tips Authority for Wales
General Candidate Information Pack - 2026 Recruitment Campaign
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Key tasks
Key Tasks
Building trust through communication
You'll develop and lead the Authority's communications strategy, ensuring our internal and external communications are clear, accessible and consistent. You'll help explain complex technical issues in ways that build understanding, confidence and public trust.
Engaging communities and partners
You'll develop meaningful relationships with communities, local authorities, Welsh Government, industry, regulators and other partners, ensuring people feel informed, listened to and involved in the Authority's work.
Shaping our organisational identity
You'll help establish the Authority's reputation as a trusted, transparent and distinctively Welsh public organisation, developing our corporate narrative, brand and public profile from the outset.
Supporting strategic delivery
You'll lead the development, publication and communication of the Authority's Corporate Plan and operational plans, ensuring colleagues and stakeholders understand how our priorities translate into delivery and public outcomes.
Leading communications in a high-profile environment
You'll provide strategic communications advice to the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board, supporting media relations, public affairs and stakeholder engagement in a politically sensitive and highly scrutinised environment.
Developing people and capability
You'll build and lead a high-performing Communications & Partnerships team, creating an environment where people can thrive, develop professionally and deliver excellent outcomes.
Successful candidates will demonstrate substantial senior-level experience in communications, engagement, public affairs, stakeholder relations, partnership management or closely related disciplines, with a proven track record of building stakeholder confidence and delivering organisational outcomes.
Technical Capabilities
Important: The technical capabilities listed below will be assessed throughout the selection process. Please refer to these capabilities when preparing your application and provide evidence of how you meet them through your qualifications, skills and experience.
Strategic Communications & Engagement
Developing and delivering organisation-wide communications and engagement strategies.
Translating complex or technical information into clear, accessible and engaging communications.
Stakeholder & Partnership Management
Building trusted relationships with government, public bodies, communities and partner organisations.
Influencing and collaborating across organisational boundaries to deliver shared outcomes.
Reputation & Public Confidence
Protecting and enhancing organisational reputation.
Leading communications within politically sensitive, high-profile or highly scrutinised environments.
Strategic Planning & Delivery
Supporting the development and communication of organisational strategy, corporate plans or major programmes.
Aligning communications activity to organisational priorities and measurable outcomes.
Leadership & Team Development
Leading and developing communications or engagement teams.
Creating a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
Communication & Judgement
Providing strategic advice to senior leaders on communications, stakeholder engagement and reputation.
Exercising sound judgement when managing complex, sensitive or rapidly evolving issues.
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Development opportunities
This role offers an exceptional opportunity to broaden your experience beyond traditional communications, combining strategic communications, corporate planning, stakeholder partnerships and organisational leadership within a newly established national public body.
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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 Governments 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.
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. For full-time employees, this will typically be 2–3 days per week, with attendance requirements adjusted on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees.
As a national organisation serving communities across Wales, the DTA will also establish a number of regional hubs and collaboration spaces. Details of these locations are currently being developed and will be confirmed ahead of the Authority becoming operational. Merthyr Tydfil will remain the Authority's headquarters.
Salary
Starting salary: £61,098 per annum. The role sits within a pay range that extends to £78,449 with progression subject to the Authority's pay arrangements.
For candidates who can demonstrate exceptional experience, expertise and market value, a higher starting salary within the approved pay range may be considered.
The Disused Tips Authority has its own pay and reward arrangements, which are separate from Welsh Government pay structures. The salary quoted above reflects the Authority's pay framework and not Welsh Government pay bands or terms.
Assessment Weightings
Where more than one appointable candidate is identified, the following criteria will be applied in the order listed below:
Demonstration of our values, including trust-building and alignment with the organisation's purpose and culture.
Technical capability in communications, engagement and partnership development.
Relevant experience in leading teams, building stakeholder confidence and delivering successful outcomes.
Desirable criteria, including Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body (or evidence of working towards this), together with experience of working within public sector or regulated environments.
Welsh language skills.
Additional Assessment Activities
Important: Technical Capabilities' are set out under Key Tasks.
A presentation on Technical Competence will be required at Interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: technical capabilities. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Our Values
We assess candidates against our TIPS values: Trust-Building, Integrity-Led, Purpose-Driven and Skilled & Collaborative. Full details of our values and culture can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.
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 where two or more candidates achieve the same score at the application or interview stage.
It would be desirable for candidates to hold, or be working towards, Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body appropriate to the role, and to have demonstrable experience working within public sector or regulated environments.
Welsh Language Ability. The Disused Tips Authority is committed to operating as a bilingual organisation and providing services in both Welsh and English. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and play an active role in promoting and normalising the use of Welsh in the workplace.
Our Commitment to the 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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