4065 - Head of Operations (Inspections) - Disused Tips Authority

• Details
• Reference number
• 475944
• Salary
• £61,098 - £78,449

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, 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.

GBP

• Job grade
• Grade 7
• Contract type
• Permanent
• Secondment
• Length of employment
• up to 2 years
• Business area
• Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group
• Type of role
• Health and Safety
• Working pattern
• Full-time
• Number of jobs available
• 1
• Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Merthyr Tydfil

About the job

Job summary

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.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the operational foundations of a new national organisation, helping establish the Disused Tips Authority as both a trusted regulator and a recognised centre of excellence in inspection, operational capability and public safety.

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

Help build the inspection capability behind one of Wales' newest public bodies.

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 on the quality, consistency and professionalism of our operational inspection capability.

As Head of Operations (Inspections), you will play a critical leadership role in developing and leading the Authority's national inspection service. You will ensure inspections are delivered consistently, proportionately and in accordance with statutory requirements, providing the evidence and assurance needed to identify, assess and manage risks to communities across Wales.

This is a broad strategic leadership role. Alongside leading the Authority's inspection function, you will shape operational standards, inspection methodologies and workforce capability, ensuring inspection activity is aligned to the Board's strategic vision and Corporate Plan while supporting effective regulation and public confidence.

Job description

Beyond the organisation itself, you will play a pivotal role in developing the Authority's ambition to become a recognised centre of excellence in inspection practice and operational capability. Working with Welsh Government, local authorities, technical specialists, professional institutions and industry partners, you will help strengthen professional standards, share good practice and develop the capability needed to support the long-term management of disused tips across Wales.

The role is both inward and outward facing:

• Internally, you will build a professional, consistent and high-performing inspection service where colleagues are empowered to apply sound technical judgement, work safely and continuously improve operational delivery.
• Externally, you will work collaboratively with local authorities, regulators, landowners, technical experts and other partners to strengthen inspection capability, promote consistency and support effective risk management across Wales.

Person specification

Building a high-performing inspection service

You'll develop and lead the Authority's national inspection programme, ensuring inspections, assessments and risk categorisation are delivered consistently, proportionately and in accordance with statutory requirements and professional standards.

Managing operational risk

You'll ensure technical evidence is used effectively to identify, assess and manage risks, working closely with engineering, digital and assurance colleagues to support informed operational decisions and continuous reassessment of risk across Wales.

Driving operational excellence

You'll establish high professional standards, robust quality assurance arrangements and efficient operational processes that promote consistency, continuous improvement and excellence across all inspection activities.

Supporting strategic delivery

You'll ensure inspection operations are fully aligned to the Authority's Corporate Plan and organisational priorities, translating strategic ambition into practical operational delivery that protects communities and supports effective regulation.

Developing inspection capability

You'll lead the Authority's work to strengthen inspection capability across Wales, working with Welsh Government, local authorities, professional institutions and technical partners to develop inspection methodologies, professional standards and workforce capability.

You'll help establish the Authority as a recognised centre of excellence by developing the operational expertise, technical capability and professional practice needed to support the long-term management and regulation of disused tips.

Working across the system

You'll build trusted relationships with local authorities, landowners, regulators, contractors and technical specialists, recognising that effective risk management depends upon collaboration, shared learning and consistent operational practice.

Leading a high-performing function

You'll build and lead a professional inspection function, creating an environment where colleagues can develop their expertise, apply sound technical judgement and deliver consistently high standards that protect communities across Wales.

Qualifications

A degree in engineering, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science or a related discipline; OR a HNC/HND (or equivalent) supported by significant relevant operational experience in inspection, engineering, environmental or infrastructure disciplines

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Strategic Inspection Leadership Please see advert
• Inspection Operations & Technical Delivery. Please see advert
• Risk, Safety & Regulatory Management. Please see advert
• Operational Planning & Performance. Please see advert
• Partnership Working & Professional Capability. Please see advert
• Leadership & Team Development. Please see advert
• Communication & Professional Judgement. Please see advert
• Professional Expertise. Please see advert

Benefits

• 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

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Experience and Technical skills.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:

• 2 stage process
• Stage 1
• Application Form
• Stage 2
• Interview
• Assessment

A degree in engineering, geotechnical engineering, civil engineering, environmental science or a related discipline; OR a HNC/HND (or equivalent) supported by significant relevant operational experience in inspection, engineering, environmental or infrastructure disciplines.

Our assessment process is designed to evaluate candidates against three core areas: technical capability, values and leadership.

Stage 1 - Technical capability to be tested via CV and Statement of Suitability

Stage 2 - Technical Capability and Our Values to be tested via interview (with presentation)

Please refer to the candidate pack for further detail.

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 if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage:

1. 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Disused Tips Authority
• Email : DisusedTipsAuthorityJobs@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

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