Head of Policy and Legislation Committee Service

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 417855

**Salary**:

- £77,019 - £90,068
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Grade 6

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- WP - Policy and Legislation Committee Service

**Type of role**:

- Other

**Working pattern**:

- Full-time

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Cardiff

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
We are recruiting the Head of the Policy and Legislation Committee Service, based in the Senedd Business Directorate in the Senedd Commission.

The Senedd’s committees have a broad range of policy, financial and legislative scrutiny functions. They hold the Welsh Government and associated bodies to account, undertaking inquiries, and gathering evidence into topics of importance to the people of Wales. The Senedd Commission’s vision is that Senedd committees demonstrably improve the quality of policy outcomes, legislation, public services and government spending for society as a whole in Wales. A critical part of our work is to support committees to effectively engage with stakeholders and the public. Our approach will need to respond to the changing nature of democratic engagement in a digital world.

Constitutional change has and will continue to shape and influence the work of Committees. The nature of devolution in Wales, and the Senedd’s position within the constitution of the UK, is continuing to evolve. The Senedd elections of May 2026 will mark the moment where a larger Senedd of 96 Members will be elected. This step change in the capacity of the Senedd presents new opportunities but also heightened public expectation in relation to the Senedd’s scrutiny role. Committees will be at the forefront of the work of the newly-constituted Seventh Senedd.

The Policy and Legislation Committee Service provides procedural, policy and administrative support to the policy and legislation committees. We operate an integrated team model, an holistic approach to providing expertise and support for committees and committee members. The Service works closely with other clerks, researchers, lawyers, communications and translation staff as well as with colleagues across the Senedd Commission, particularly to reach out to and engage effectively with the people of Wales.

**Job description**:
The role has three main elements:

- Head of Service - leading and developing a high-performing team of around 35 staff to provide effective secretariat support for the Senedd’s policy and legislation committees.. You will support the development of a positive and inclusive service and ensure that the right resources are in the right place at the right time. You will directly manage a team of committee clerks. Clerks lead teams providing procedural, policy and administrative support to individual committees, drawing on specialist support from across the Senedd Commission via integrated teams.
- Leadership Team member - working collaboratively with heads of service from the Senedd Business Directorate (comprising the Chamber and Committee Service; Policy and Legislation Committee Service; Legal Service; Research Service; and Strategic Transformation Service) and across the organisation to lead, motivate and support staff through a period of significant organisational change. Adopting a “one-team” approach to the delivery of priorities and services, reflecting our shared values.
- Senior adviser - providing impartial, robust procedural, policy and constitutional advice to the Llywydd (Presiding Officer), Committee Chairs, Senedd Members and staff on a range of matters relating to committees and related Senedd business.

**Person specification**:
The job specific criteria below are either essential or desirable for this role.
- A collaborative leadership approach and experience of managing multi-skilled teams of staff working in a high-pressure political environment or equivalent.
- Significant experience of providing expert, impartial policy and/or procedural advice to a range of stakeholders in a parliamentary organisation or equivalent.
- Experience of developing innovative methods for stakeholder and/or citizen engagement.
- Knowledge and experience of legislative processes.
- High-level understanding of Senedd Cymru, Welsh Government and public service in Wales and the context within which they operate.

**Benefits**:

- Alongside your salary of £77,019, Welsh Parliament contributes £22,312 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

**Things you need to know**:
**Selection process details**:
**Interviews will be held in