ID 1751

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.

Vacancy details

Vacancy title

Monument Grounds Manager

Closing date

29/10/2024, 16:00

Advertising basis

Permanent

Actual starting salary

A non-negotiable starting salary of £43,785 will be offered to the successful candidate. The salary range for this grade (SEO) is £43,785 to £51,839.

Salary range or pay band

SEO £43,785 to £51,839

Allowances

Work pattern

Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group

Education, Culture and Welsh Language

Directorate

Culture

Branch

Properties in Care

Location (s)

Pan Wales

Purpose of post

The role will manage the grounds for Cadw’s historic monuments and buildings, prioritising Cadw’s strategic objectives (Cadw’s SOs) for its monuments:

Conserve an appropriate setting for all historic monuments / buildings,
Maximise biodiversity potential
Minimise impact on climate
Enable access for as many as possible
Increase seasonal interest
Promote visitor enjoyment
Ensure visitor safety.

The role will be managed by the Head of Monuments Conservation who heads up a team responsible for ensuring all monuments are in good condition, safe and accessible for visitors. The Monument Conservation team also includes Cadwraeth, Cadw’s regionally organised craft stone masons and joiners.

Cadw is in the process of changing from GM contractors managed under a broader, external intermediary facilities management (FM) contract, to direct management of grounds contractors by this role. The current system ends in autumn 2025 and the postholder will be responsible for ensuring there is no break in good grounds management for Cadw’s monuments.

This role will set up, and then manage, new GM contracts for all Cadw’s monuments. GM contractors will be organised on a regional basis to match the existing regional Cadwraeth teams (NE, NW, SE, south central and SW Wales). All new contracts must deliver Cadw’s strategic objectives set out above.

The postholder will also lead a review of the grounds management of all 132 of Cadw’s monuments over 3 -5 years, ensuring ultimately that each monument has a Grounds Management Plan which delivers the strategic objectives above.

This role will be pivotal to achieving a step change in how Cadw manages its grounds across the estate.

Key tasks

Lead the effective delivery of grounds maintenance (GM) currently managed by Cadw’s external FM contractor until this contract comes to an end in Autumn 2025, ensuring any issues with service delivery are addressed and resolved.
Ensure effective GM continues seamlessly for Cadw monuments at the end of the current FM contract.
Establish a multi-year, prioritised programme to review all Cadw sites, creating a Grounds Management Plan for each which delivers Cadw’s strategic objectives for its grounds and includes a GM task list that can be used for re-tendering the new GM contracts as and when appropriate.
Devise new contracts which deliver Cadw’s strategic objectives (see above) include key performance indicators for managing performance and, ensure flexibility from contractors. Provide a quarterly performance report on GM.
Take responsibility for reviewing the existing and potential new GM contractors available across Wales grouping them into 5 regional contract areas. The review should identify suitable contractors based on their ability to deliver improved biodiversity, quality, reliability and flexibility.
Devise a system of inspection and sampling which ensures GM is delivered as contracted.
Set up a system to measure biodiversity gain at Cadw sites.
Establish strong working relationships with Cadw colleagues, in particular the regional Conservation Works Managers (Cadwraeth), Cadw’s finance team, Cadw’s Historic Environment Inspectors and the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation team within Welsh Government. Establish equally strong working relationships with Natural Resources Wales and other external groups.
Support in responding to FOI requests and briefings related to Cadw’s FM provision as required by WG Senior Leadership and Ministers.
Explore new partnership opportunities to collaborate with, and / or delegate the GM of some sites to local or national nature groups.
Commission and manage small and medium GM projects at Cadw sites as appropriate. These will have a dedicated capital budget.

Development opportunities

Cadw encourages staff to pursue opportunities for continuous professional development as well as supporting specific learning and development activities linked to business needs.
You will be encouraged to take at least 5 days of learning per year and have access to the Welsh Government’s Learning Lab and Civil Service-Learning provision.
This role offers the opportunity to deliver a step change in favour of biodiversity and presentation for all Cadw’s monuments in state care.
There will be the opportunity to work closely with similar roles across other UK heritage organisations

Other vacancy related information

Cadw’s main office is in Merthyr Tydfil but the post holder can be based at any Welsh government office situated across Wales.
Cadw has sites across the whole of Wales and you will be expected to travel on a regular basis c. 2 days per week on average. Business mileage rates will be paid in accordance with WG travel and subsistence rules.
There are currently no line management responsibilities.
The postholder will be responsible for an annual revenue budget of between £750,000 and £1,000,000 to employ grounds contractors to deliver the care as well as put in place Grounds Management Plans for all monuments over a 3-5 year programme.
The payment of one professional membership will be met by the employer.
A presentation on Technical 1 will be required at interview stage. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
Only the highest scoring 6 candidates who meet the job criteria will be interviewed.

Vetting level

Basic

Number of posts

Contact point for further information regarding the post

CadwEstatesandProperty@gov.wales

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

Civil Service Pension Scheme
31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
training and development opportunities
Cycle2Work Scheme
Smart Working flexible working arrangement
Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Recruitment principles and complaints

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.

How to Apply

All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.

If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team.You can:

request an application pack in an alternative format
request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

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Monument Grounds Manager