Independent Member – Qualification Wales

QUALIFICATIONS WALES

Appointment of Board Members  Three Board Members Daily fee is £282 based on a time commitment of up to 36 days (an average of 3 days per month) a year.  

Qualifications Wales is the independent regulator of qualifications and the qualification system in Wales and is a Welsh Government Sponsored body.  Qualifications Wales is responsible for ensuring that qualifications and the qualifications system are effective in meeting the needs of learners in Wales, and for promoting public confidence in the education system. There is now an exciting opportunity to be involved in transforming the qualifications system in Wales as we move towards a new curriculum for Wales and look to develop our vocational qualification offer. 

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about improving education in Wales and want to make a real difference to the lives of our children, young people and adult learners. You must also be able to inspire Qualifications Wales staff so that they are fully engaged in delivering forthcoming changes to the qualifications system. We want people who think differently, understand how to make an impact and are prepared to challenge in the quest to be the very best. 

We want a Board that has a diverse range of relevant skills so, for these three new members, we are looking for expertise in the following specialisms;

- Curriculum/Assessment

The successful candidate will have demonstrable experience in developing and implementing a curriculum and of assessment, and previous experience as a school or college leader is strongly desired.  They will be learner centred in their approach and will help us ensure that our work constantly has learners at the heart of what we do.   

- Finance 

The successful candidate will have experience of providing expert and strategic financial oversight, preferably with a good understanding of public sector finance, and hold a recognised accountancy qualification. They will have experience of advising or working with Boards or Committees providing expert and strategic financial oversight. They will be comfortable to provide the Board with guidance and able to work with Board and executive colleagues to consider the financial issues for the organisation in both the short and longer term. 

- ICT 

The successful candidate will have a sound knowledge of current ICT and related digital developments, ICT management experience, and be skilled in using technology.

We are looking for new members who can demonstrate (for all three posts) the following:

the ability to bring fresh ideas to discussions on both strategic and practical issues outside of your areas of expertise;

the ability to oversee, direct and/or make decisions in the face of political or financial uncertainty;

the ability and experience to scrutinise our work to ensure that any reforms to qualifications are manageable, engaging and designed to meet the intended vision.

a wide understanding of education issues in Wales.  This knowledge may have been gained in any walk of life, including community involvement, voluntary work or professional background.

An appreciation of the work of Qualifications Wales and its work with stakeholders.

The ability to speak Welsh is highly desirable but not essential for the three posts.

Qualifications Wales considers it of real importance that its Board is reflective of the demographic of Wales, in so far as is possible. We are therefore particularly keen to encourage applicants from an ethnic community or disabled background to apply for these roles.  We are also looking to recruit Welsh speakers to add to the skills on our Board. For further details and to apply go to  https://gov.wales/public-appointments 

All meetings are run on a hybrid basis. However, the Board has agreed that in-person attendance is the norm at Board meetings and Board development days, while recognising that there may be occasional exceptional circumstances to this approach. Remote attendance is expected at all Committee meetings and briefing sessions

For an informal discussion regarding the Board positions you can contact:

Catherine English at Qualifications Wales by emailing: Catherine.English@qualifications.wales

Public Appointments Team, Welsh Government by emailing: publicappointments@gov.wales.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 16/04/2024.  Applications received after this date will not be considered.