Deputy Director Sustainable Futures

The post is part of the new Welsh Government Strategy Directorate, within the First Minister and Cabinet Office Group.

The post holder will lead an effective, integrated team which works flexibly across at high pace across a range of complex and novel issues, rapidly adapting to emerging requirements.

The postholder will lead on continuing to mainstream the Well-being of Future Generations Act within Welsh Government, advising Ministers and senior officials on the Welsh Governments own responsibilities under the Act, and promoting integrated policy making across government.

They will also be responsible for the Equality Impact Improvement team who lead and manage the delivery of a cross organisational Section 23 Action Plan to bring about organisational reform and culture change in the way that equality impacts are considered from the start of our policy making, ensuring that equality impact assessments have been properly undertaken and that statutory equality duties have been met.

The postholder will work across Government and with partners to further develop and deliver approaches to mainstream the Wellbeing of Future Generations within Welsh Government policy making, boost policy capability and act as lead advisor on ensuring the Welsh Government fulfils its own responsibilities under the Act.

The postholder will liaise closely with the office of the Future Generations Commissioner and strengthen cross-Wales and international networks on wellbeing policy.

The postholder will:

Lead through influence across Welsh Government and the public sector to embed sustainable development across all public bodies covered by the Well-being of Future Generation Act.

Provide leadership, direction and support for Sustainable Futures Division staff and across Welsh Government.

Promote and embed the Well-being of Future Generations as an operating system for the Welsh Government, including refreshing guidance, delivering training, and leading staff engagement sessions.

Build capacity and understanding across Welsh Government through champions, networks, and knowledge sharing.

Act as the lead advisor on ensuring the Welsh Government fulfils its own responsibilities under the WFG Act, advising ExCo and the WG Board as necessary.

Work closely with senior officials, special advisors and Ministers to deliver the Welsh Governments Well-being and Future Generations objectives.

Lead on the delivery of grants to Public Services Boards (PSBs), the Future Generations Commissioner, and Sustainable Futures Divisional funding.

Lead on benchmarking policy skills and applying future trends within policy development.

Deliver enhancements to the practice and process of assessing impact, especially where there are statutory obligations.

Provide leadership, management and oversight for the effective delivery of the Equality Impact Improvement action plan and provide timely progress updates on s23 to ExCo and the Welsh Government Board.

The successful candidate will need to have a range of experience, skills and experience, including:

Behaviours (assessed at application and interview)

• Leadership - work to influence the strategy, direction and culture to increase effectiveness
• Working Together - proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of contacts across the organisation and externally
• Seeing the Big Picture - identify and shape how your work area fits within and supports the priorities of the organisation
• Communicating and Influencing - influence external partners, stakeholders and customers successfully securing mutually beneficial outcomes

Experience (assessed at application and interview)

1. Experience of championing and nurturing best practice relating to the Well-being of Future Generations Act in particular the five ways of working, including futures thinking.

2. Experience of working on equalities issues, including stakeholder engagement, organisational improvement and impact assessments.

In the event of a large number of applications the sift will be undertaken on the lead Behaviour of Leadership and lead Experience point 1 of championing and nurturing best practice relating to the Well-being of Future Generations Act, in particular the five ways of working, including futures thinking.