Deputy Director for Transport for Wales and Rail

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 title

Deputy Director for Transport for Wales and Rail

Closing date

18/11/2025, 16:00

Advertising basis

Senior Civil Service

Actual starting salary

£81000

Payband

SCS1

Allowances

No

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

Economy, Energy and Transport

Directorate

Transport and Digital Connectivity

Location (s)

Pan Wales

Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.

Purpose of post

This is an excellent opportunity to join the Transport and Digital Connectivity Directorate's senior management team to deliver significant reforms to transport in Wales.

This post is responsible for all rail policy in Wales and sponsorship of Transport for Wales. Within rail, this includes the legislative framework, operational oversight, network planning, financial management and new infrastructure schemes. Within TfW, this includes overseeing one of Wales's largest arm's-length bodies with significant responsibilities across rail, bus, active travel and transport planning.

The strategic context is the Welsh Government's ambitious strategy for sustainable transport, Llwybr Newydd. Launched in March 2021, it is shaping our transport system over the next 20 years, establishing a new way of thinking that puts people and places at the heart of our transport system. Each core element of the strategy is reflected in the Programme for Government. 'Better Transport' is also one of the First Minister's four top priorities across government – this post is responsible for the most challenging parts of its delivery.

The post lies at the centre of the Transport and Digital Connectivity Directorate, which forms part of the Economy, Energy and Transport Group. The post-holder works very closely with Ministers, engages a wide network of stakeholders and is at the forefront of transport thinking in Wales.

The Directorate as a whole has 165 people, a budget of £1.6bn and sponsorship responsibility for the 4,000-strong Transport for Wales delivery organisation. Our remit covers roads, rail operations, the bus industry, walking, cycling, ports and aviation. In parallel, we are involved in non-devolved areas such as rail investment and digital infrastructure. Connectivity is what binds us together – through technology, transport infrastructure and policy, we help people and businesses connect across Wales, the UK and the rest of the world.

This particular role will lead a team of around 20 with a total budget of around £500m and a large amount of Ministerial interaction. The role suits a Deputy Director looking to work closely with Ministers and partners to find pragmatic ways to modernise transport and make change happen. Live issues include: putting new trains into service, evolving Transport for Wales into a truly multi-modal transport authority, working with the UK Government on the UK Spending Review, UK rail reform and the establishment of Great British Rail, and guiding TfW through Senedd reform and the 2026 election.

Diversity of thought, experience and backgrounds is critical in this area of work and we consciously seek to broaden our representation to better reflect all our end users. We strongly believe that a team comprising a wide range of lived experiences will underpin the best advice on how drive the improved outcomes. Many of our staff are based in and around Cardiff, but we embrace hybrid working to ensure our people can contribute effectively from any location.

Overall, we are looking for someone who is excited about addressing these challenges, and who can be an engaging and compassionate leader to the team.

Key tasks

• Inclusive, engaging and supportive leadership for the Rail and TfW Division, structured around two G6-led branches

• Holding TfW to account for rail performance and working with the Delivery Unit to monitor rail targets

• Overseeing significant capital investment, particularly the transformation of the Core Valleys Lines and Cardiff Central station

• Working with the UK Government to influence rail capital spending in Wales, including with the Department for Transport and external stakeholders

• Pursuing rail reform to give Wales a greater voice in the operation of the railway, influencing forthcoming primary legislation from the UK Government

• Formal sponsorship of TfW, ensuring high standards of governance, business planning and corporate management for one of Wales's largest arm's-length bodies

• Supporting both TfW and the TDC Directorate to ensure TfW continues to evolve from a rail delivery body to a multi-modal transport authority

• Financial management of a significant set of revenue and capital grants programmes, in close partnership with TfW

• Leadership of the 'Directorate Coordination Unit', a team of around [5] business support staff, with particular responsibilities on recruitment, and learning and development

• Contributing to the overall TDC senior management team, playing a key role in supporting innovation and change across the department to deliver Ministers' transport ambitions

Other vacancy related information

Job Title:

Deputy Director of Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW)

Location:

You may be contractually based at any of the main Welsh Government offices in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno Junction or Aberystwyth. We support hybrid working and tailoring patterns to suit individual circumstances. The role requires occasional travel to Cardiff.

Salary:

The role is at Deputy Director level (SCS1) and the starting salary is circa £81,000 although some flexibility may be available for an exceptional candidate.

For existing Civil Servants – if you are a substantive Director applying on a lateral transfer basis to the Welsh Government you will retain your existing salary. If you are an existing civil servant applying on promotion, the starting pay on promotion will usually attract a 10% increase in base pay or be at the pay band minimum, whichever is greater.

Secondment – if you are applying for this role on a secondment basis, you will retain your existing terms and conditions including salary (subject to approvals).

Contract Type:

Permanent or a secondment/loan for up to 2 years initially.

Applications are welcome from people who work full -time, part-time, or as part of a job share.