4054 - Head of Compliance Operations for the Disused Tips Authority

• Details
• Reference number
• 475912
• 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
• Engineering
• Environment and Sustainability
• Legal Services
• 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 (DTA Headquarters). The Disused Tips Authority's headquarters will be based in Merthyr Tydfil. When the Authority is established on 1 April 2027, a number of regional hubs will also be available across Wales; however, Merthyr Tydfil will remain the organisation's headquarters.

About the job

Job summary

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

Important: The Disused Tips Authority for Wales will be established as an independent Welsh Public Body and separate legal entity on 1 April 2027 . Until then, these roles will be hosted by the Welsh Government, providing a unique opportunity to help create and shape a new national organisation from the outset.

Successful candidates will initially be employed by the Welsh Government before transferring to the Disused Tips Authority when it becomes operational on 1 April 2027 , with continuity of employment maintained throughout.

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 information relevant to this vacancy.

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 regulatory 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 a regulatory approach that is fair, proportionate, transparent and trusted by the people and communities we serve.

As Head of Operations (Compliance) , you will play a critical leadership role in developing and leading the Authority's national compliance and enforcement function. You will ensure statutory notifications, monitoring, compliance and enforcement activities are delivered consistently, proportionately and in accordance with legislation, protecting communities while supporting confidence in the Authority's regulatory approach.

This is a broad strategic leadership role. Alongside leading the Authority's compliance function, you will develop operational policies, regulatory processes and workforce capability, ensuring compliance activity is aligned to the Board's strategic vision and Corporate Plan while promoting consistency, fairness and effective regulation.

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 modern, risk-based regulation. Working with Welsh Government, local authorities, regulators, landowners, professional institutions and other partners, you will help strengthen regulatory capability, share good practice and develop approaches that 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 compliance function where colleagues exercise sound professional judgement, apply legislation fairly and work collaboratively to achieve positive regulatory outcomes.
• Externally , you will work with landowners, local authorities, regulators, communities and other partners to encourage compliance, build understanding of statutory responsibilities and promote confidence in the Authority's regulatory approach.

Person specification

Key Tasks

Building a high-performing compliance function

• You'll develop and lead the Authority's national compliance programme, ensuring statutory notifications, monitoring, compliance and enforcement activities are delivered consistently, proportionately and in accordance with legislative requirements and regulatory best practice.

Supporting effective regulation

• You'll ensure the Authority's regulatory powers are exercised fairly, transparently and consistently, promoting a proportionate approach that encourages compliance while protecting public safety and maintaining public confidence.

Driving operational excellence

• You'll establish high professional standards, robust governance arrangements and effective operational processes that promote consistency, quality and continuous improvement across compliance and enforcement activities.

Supporting strategic delivery

• You'll ensure compliance operations are fully aligned to the Authority's Corporate Plan and organisational priorities, translating strategic ambition into practical regulatory delivery that supports safe, effective and proportionate regulation.

Developing regulatory capability

• You'll lead the Authority's work to strengthen regulatory capability across Wales, working with Welsh Government, local authorities, regulators, professional institutions and operational partners to develop regulatory practice, operational guidance and professional capability.
• You'll help establish the Authority as a recognised centre of excellence by developing the knowledge, capability and professional standards needed to support the long-term regulation and management of disused tips.

Working across the system

• You'll build trusted relationships with landowners, local authorities, regulators, emergency services and technical specialists, recognising that effective regulation depends on collaboration, clear communication and shared responsibility for public safety.

Leading a high-performing function

• You'll build and lead a professional compliance function, creating an environment where colleagues can develop their expertise, exercise sound judgement and deliver consistent, evidence-based regulatory decisions that protect communities across Wales.

Successful candidates will hold a degree in Law, Environmental Management, Engineering, Regulatory Practice or a related discipline, an HNC/HND (or equivalent qualification), or be able to demonstrate substantial relevant professional experience within regulatory, compliance or enforcement environments.

Technical Capabilities

Important: The technical capabilities listed below will be assessed throughout the selection process. Please refer to these capabilities when preparing your application and provide evidence of how you meet them through your qualifications, skills and experience.

Strategic Compliance Leadership

• Developing and delivering organisation-wide compliance and enforcement strategies aligned to organisational priorities.
• Translating organisational vision into practical regulatory approaches that enable delivery of statutory responsibilities.

Compliance & Enforcement Operations

• Leading the development and delivery of nationally consistent compliance, monitoring and enforcement programmes within regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Applying proportionate, risk-based approaches to compliance and enforcement that promote positive regulatory outcomes.
• Ensuring statutory powers are exercised fairly, consistently and in accordance with legislation, regulatory principles and organisational policies.

Risk, Safety & Regulatory Management

• Identifying, assessing and managing regulatory and operational risks using evidence-based approaches.
• Working within statutory, governance and regulatory frameworks to deliver safe, compliant and effective services.
• Exercising sound professional judgement when managing complex or high-risk regulatory issues.

Operational Planning & Performance

• Planning, coordinating and delivering complex regulatory or operational programmes across multiple workstreams.
• Monitoring operational performance, quality, compliance and resource utilisation.
• Driving continuous improvement through learning, quality assurance and evidence-led decision making.

Partnership Working & Professional Capability

• Building productive relationships with landowners, local authorities, regulators, emergency services, professional institutions and other partners.
• Working collaboratively across organisational boundaries to strengthen regulatory capability, promote consistency and share good practice.
• Supporting the development of professional capability and regulatory excellence across Wales.

Leadership & Team Development

• Leading and developing professional teams within complex regulatory or operational environments.
• Building capability while promoting accountability, integrity, collaboration and high professional standards.
• Creating an inclusive environment where colleagues can develop and perform at their best.

Communication & Professional Judgement

• Communicating complex regulatory and technical matters clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Providing balanced, evidence-based advice to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Making sound regulatory decisions in environments involving uncertainty, risk or public scrutiny.

Qualifications

A degree in Law, Environmental Management, Engineering, Regulatory Practice or a related discipline, or an HNC/HND (or equivalent), or can you demonstrate significant relevant professional experience within regulatory, compliance or enforcement environments

Technical skills

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

• Our Technical Capabilities Important: Please find our Technical Capabilities noted under Key Tasks
• Please describe the qualifications, professional memberships, chartership and relevant experience you hold that demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

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

Stage One – Application Applying for a role with us is straightforward.

You will be asked to provide:

• A CV
• A Personal Statement (maximum 1,250 words)

Your CV should provide an overview of your career history, including your current and previous roles, key responsibilities, achievements, qualifications and any relevant professional memberships. It should give us a clear understanding of your experience and career progression but does not need to repeat the evidence provided in your personal statement.

Your personal statement should be structured around the technical capabilities outlined in the online job advert. Please explain how your knowledge, skills and experience demonstrate your ability to meet these requirements. You do not need to address every bullet point individually. Instead, provide relevant examples that demonstrate your capability across the key technical areas.

We encourage you to draw on a range of experiences and clearly describe your personal contribution, the actions you took, the outcomes you achieved and the impact you had.

Assessment at Stage 1 will be based on the evidence provided in your CV and personal statement against the technical capabilities, relevant experience and any role-specific requirements outlined in the advert.

Assessment Weightings

Where more than one appointable candidate is identified, the following criteria will be applied in the order listed below:

• Demonstration of our values, including trust-building and alignment with the organisation's purpose and culture.
• Technical capability in compliance leadership, regulatory operations, enforcement, risk and safety management, operational performance, partnership working and professional judgement.
• Relevant experience leading compliance or enforcement functions, delivering proportionate regulatory activity, managing risk within regulated environments, and providing evidence-based advice and decisions in complex or high-profile settings.
• Desirable criteria listed below.
• Welsh language skills.

Additional Assessment Activities

Important: Technical Capabilities' are set out under Key Tasks.

A presentation on Technical Competence will be required at Interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: technical capabilities. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

A degree in Law, Environmental Management, Engineering, Regulatory Practice or a related discipline, or an HNC/HND (or equivalent), or can you demonstrate significant relevant professional experience within regulatory, compliance or enforcement environments

Our Values

We assess candidates against our TIPS values: Trust-Building, Integrity-Led, Purpose-Driven and Skilled & Collaborative. Full details of our values and culture can be found in the Candidate Information Pack.

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 where two or more candidates achieve the same score at the application or interview stage.

It would be desirable for candidates to have demonstrable experience in regulatory compliance, enforcement, environmental regulation, infrastructure regulation or comparable statutory functions, and to hold, or be working towards, membership of a relevant professional institution.

• Welsh Language Ability. The Disused Tips Authority is committed to operating as a bilingual organisation and providing services in both Welsh and English. We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve and play an active role in promoting and normalising the use of Welsh in the workplace.

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