Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings and Monuments

The Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings and Monuments leads Cadw’s Historic Environment Inspectorate branch with responsibility for managing the delivery of strategic policy and statutory functions supporting the protection and conservation of the historic environment of Wales.

The Historic Environment Inspectorate comprises Historic Buildings, Parks and Gardens and Ancient Monuments and Archaeology Inspectors, policy and protection administration, grants and information management teams. The Chief Inspector plays an important professional leadership role within Cadw and the wider heritage sector of Wales. As a member of the Cadw Senior Executive Team, the Chief Inspector is responsible for setting policy and strategic direction for conservation and historic environment protection and management, producing guidance and overseeing implementation.

• To play a strategic leadership role within Cadw, contributing to the senior leadership and executive team, representing the division and deputising for the Chief Executive as appropriate within the Welsh Government and wider fora and networks.
• To direct and manage the Historic Environment Inspectorate, setting strategic direction and business plans to maximise performance to deliver divisional targets and compliance with Welsh Government requirements, reporting to Cadw CEO and Cadw Internal Board.
• To lead the provision of Cadw’s statutory functions in respect of conservation and protection of historic assets including oversight of planning, consent and advisory services and networks and forums upon which Cadw is represented.
• Responsibility for the monitoring and expenditure of Historic Environment branch budgets including strategic development and delivery of revenue and capital grant programmes, supporting those who own, manage or conserve designated historic assets across Wales.
• To lead the development and implementation of architectural and technical sectoral standards and principles for the conservation of the historic environment of Wales. This includes the consent processes for Listed Buildings and Scheduled Monuments.
• To oversee and lead the protection of historic assets of national significance, including setting priority and strategic direction for designation programmes and their implementation.
• To lead the work of the Branch in its role in the conservation and presentation of Cadw’s historic properties in care. This will include ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and Cadw’s published Conservation Principles.
• To play a leading role in developing and fostering strategic partnerships and networks to promote conservation, protection and understanding of the historic environment.
• Setting standards and overseeing the implementation of programmes of work undertaken by third sector bodies in receipt of revenue Grant funding from Cadw and supporting the monitoring of the work programme of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
• To play a leading role in the recording, documentation and management of knowledge and information relating to the historic environment of Wales.
• To provide advice to the Welsh Ministers, Welsh Government departments and senior Cadw colleagues on matters relating to historic environment conservation and protection.
• To maintain and develop professional links and networks with relevant professions in Wales and further afield.

Cadw supports Continued Professional Development and encourages staff to continuously seek to develop their professional skills and expertise through formal and informal training, participation in research and conferences. The postholder will have opportunities to develop and lead programmes and projects related to the investigation, protection and management of historic assets and the wider historic environment.

A professional qualification in a heritage-related discipline or membership of a relevant professional body e.g. heritage, building conservation, planning.

The CV should focus on demonstrating professional expertise and experience working in the protection, management or conservation of the historic environment. The CV should also detail any professional qualifications in heritage-related disciplines, as well as membership in relevant professional organisations.

Cadw offices are in South-East Wales in Cathays Park, Cardiff and Welsh Government Office, Merthyr Tydfil and North Wales at Llandudno Junction. This post requires travel across Wales along with attendance at management, team and board meetings which will require occasional overnight stays. Many Cadw sites are in remote locations not easily accessible by public transport, therefore a full driving licence is required.

If your application is successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview at the Welsh Government building, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ. A presentation on Seeing the big picture will be required at interview stage. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

If after interview stage, there are successful candidates with the same score in order to determine merit order, the panel will first review interview score for technical skills and then experience. A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

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Cadw.HR@gov.wales

Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.