At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead national investment programmes to enhance public safety and manage infrastructure effectively.
- Company: Join the Disused Tips Authority, a new public body dedicated to community safety in Wales.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, job security, and the chance to shape a new organisation.
- Other info: Opportunity to help establish a centre of excellence in infrastructure management.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community safety while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing complex programmes and a passion for public service.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
Location - The Authority's headquarters will be located at Rhydycar Business Park, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ. This will be the principal place of work and where most colleagues will come together to collaborate with one another and with stakeholders. The successful candidate will be expected to attend the office in Merthyr Tydfil regularly to support collaboration and stakeholder engagement. For full-time employees, this will typically be 2–3 days per week, with attendance requirements adjusted on a pro-rata basis for part-time employees. As a national organisation serving communities across Wales, the DTA will also establish a number of regional hubs and collaboration spaces. Details of these locations are currently being developed and will be confirmed ahead of the Authority becoming operational. Merthyr Tydfil will remain the Authority's headquarters.
Purpose of post - Help deliver the investment and interventions that will protect communities across Wales. This is a unique opportunity to help build the delivery capability of one of Wales' newest public organisations. 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 not only on understanding risk, but on ensuring that public investment is translated into effective maintenance, engineering interventions and long-term asset management.
As Head of Programmes, Maintenance & Investment, you will play a critical leadership role in developing and delivering the Authority's national investment programme. You will ensure public funding is prioritised effectively, maintenance and engineering programmes are coordinated efficiently, and management plans are developed and delivered to achieve lasting reductions in risk. Working closely with inspection, compliance, engineering and data specialists, you'll ensure investment decisions are informed by robust evidence, aligned to national priorities and deliver measurable improvements in public safety.
Reporting to the Director of Data & Assurance, you'll play a key role in establishing the Authority's programme delivery capability, investment frameworks and operational standards, helping create an organisation recognised for delivering public value through effective infrastructure management and long-term risk reduction. Beyond the organisation itself, you will work collaboratively with Welsh Government, local authorities, contractors, consultants and delivery partners to strengthen programme delivery capability, promote consistent standards and support the Authority's ambition to become a recognised centre of excellence in infrastructure stewardship and risk-based investment.
The role is both inward and outward facing: Internally, you will ensure investment, maintenance planning and programme delivery are fully integrated with inspection findings, compliance activity and national risk priorities, creating a joined-up approach to reducing risk across Wales. Externally, you will build trusted relationships with Welsh Government, local authorities, contractors and delivery partners, ensuring programmes are delivered safely, efficiently and collaboratively while maximising public value.
This is a unique opportunity to shape the delivery capability of a new national organisation, helping establish the Disused Tips Authority as both an effective delivery organisation and a recognised centre of excellence in programme management, public investment and long-term asset stewardship.
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.
Key Responsibilities - Delivering national investment programmes You’ll lead the Authority's national investment programme, ensuring maintenance, capital investment and risk reduction programmes are prioritised, coordinated and delivered in line with organisational priorities, statutory responsibilities and available funding.
Managing investment and public funding You’ll oversee the operational delivery of the Authority's investment programme, ensuring funding is allocated transparently, monitored effectively and delivers measurable improvements in public safety, value for money and long-term resilience.
Coordinating maintenance and engineering delivery You’ll lead the planning and coordination of maintenance programmes, engineering interventions and asset management plans, ensuring works are prioritised using evidence, delivered efficiently and aligned to national risk priorities.
Supporting strategic delivery You’ll ensure programme delivery, investment decisions and maintenance activity are fully aligned to the Authority's Corporate Plan and organisational priorities, translating strategic ambition into practical delivery that improves safety and organisational performance.
Developing standards and delivery capability You’ll lead the development and implementation of operational policies, delivery standards and codes of practice that promote consistency, quality and continuous improvement across programme delivery, maintenance and infrastructure management. You’ll help establish the Authority as a recognised centre of excellence by developing programme management capability, promoting best practice and strengthening long-term approaches to infrastructure investment and asset stewardship.
Working across the system You’ll build trusted relationships with Welsh Government, local authorities, contractors, consultants and delivery partners, recognising that successful programme delivery depends upon collaboration, shared expertise and effective partnership working.
Leading a high-performing function You’ll build and lead a professional Programmes, Maintenance & Investment function, creating an environment where colleagues can develop their expertise, deliver complex programmes confidently and achieve outstanding outcomes for communities across Wales.
Successful candidates would have demonstrable experience of leading complex programmes, capital investment or infrastructure projects within the public sector or other complex, regulated organisations. It would also be desirable for candidates to hold, or be working towards, membership of an appropriate professional institution, such as APM, ICE, CIHT or an equivalent professional body.
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 Programme & Investment Leadership Leading complex investment programmes and delivery portfolios aligned to organisational priorities and statutory responsibilities. Translating strategic priorities into coordinated programmes that deliver measurable improvements in public safety and long-term resilience.
- Programme & Project Delivery Leading the planning, coordination and delivery of complex maintenance, capital or infrastructure programmes across multiple workstreams. Managing programme governance, performance, risks, dependencies and benefits to ensure successful delivery. Ensuring programmes are delivered safely, efficiently and in accordance with agreed quality, budget and timescale expectations.
- Investment & Financial Management Managing public investment programmes, grant funding or capital portfolios, ensuring transparent allocation, effective governance and demonstrable value for money. Monitoring programme performance, financial delivery and investment outcomes to support effective decision making and public accountability.
- Asset Management & Engineering Coordination Coordinating maintenance programmes, engineering interventions and long-term asset management plans for complex infrastructure or asset portfolios. Prioritising interventions using evidence, operational intelligence and risk-based approaches. Ensuring maintenance activity contributes to sustainable asset management and long-term resilience.
- Partnership Working & Delivery Management Building trusted relationships with Welsh Government, local authorities, contractors, consultants and delivery partners. Managing complex delivery environments involving multiple organisations, contractual arrangements and stakeholder interests. Promoting collaboration, consistency and shared learning across delivery partners.
- Operational Performance & Continuous Improvement Developing delivery frameworks, operational standards and performance measures that support continuous improvement. Using programme performance, operational learning and evidence to improve future delivery and investment decisions.
- Leadership & Professional Judgement Providing professional leadership across programme management, public investment and infrastructure delivery. Exercising sound judgement when balancing organisational priorities, risk, cost, delivery and public accountability.
Head of Programmes, Maintenance & Investment - Disused Tips Authority in Merthyr Tydfil employer: ICE Recruit
ICE Recruit is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters collaboration and innovation in the engineering sector. With a focus on high-value projects in Derby, employees benefit from competitive rates and the chance to work on prestigious assignments, while also enjoying opportunities for professional growth and development within a supportive environment.
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We think this is how you could land Head of Programmes, Maintenance & Investment - Disused Tips Authority in Merthyr Tydfil
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Programmes, Maintenance & Investment - Disused Tips Authority in Merthyr Tydfil
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