Head of Compliance Operations - Disused Tips Authority

Salary range - £61,098 - £78,449

Closing date - 31/08/2026, 23:55

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 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.

Role Overview: 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. 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.

Key Responsibilities:

• 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.