Education Improvement Team Professional Advisor - Secondee x 2
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
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Occupation Type
Education advisers and school inspectors
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£42,200
(£21.64 per hour)
Occupation rate applies
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Description
Vacancy title
Education Improvement Team Professional Advisor - Secondee x 2
Closing date
16/03/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Secondment
Actual starting salary
This opportunity will be a secondment to Welsh Government, and the successful candidate will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions of service and current basic salary.
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 £61,098 to £73,057
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Duration
2 year secondment
Group
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Directorate
Education
Branch
Education Improvement Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Welsh Government has changed the way that it engages with local authorities and schools, in the context of the Strategic Review of Education Partners, to provide more active support to enable a self-improving system which improves educational standards for learners in Wales. This is now set out as part of the new School Improvement Guidance published on 5 January 2026.
We have established the Education Improvement Team within Welsh Government, who lead on more regular strategic engagement with local authorities to share national priorities, develop cross-sector understanding, and provide national support as appropriate. The Team will look to build up over time if and as needed. It actively seeks to represent WG education priorities in an integrated way so will represent key education policy areas.
We are recruiting two secondees to work closely with local authorities and schools to ensure national priorities are clear, build a better understanding of local challenges and experiences to inform national policy, and to facilitate connection and join up across Wales to support delivery of national priorities. They will contribute to the overall national understanding of the progress of the school-to-school collaborative improvement model set out in the recent guidance.
Specifically, We Are Looking To Recruit
Education Improvement Team Professional Advisor - Secondee x 2
Closing date
16/03/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Secondment
Actual starting salary
This opportunity will be a secondment to Welsh Government, and the successful candidate will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions of service and current basic salary.
Salary range or pay band
Grade 7 £61,098 to £73,057
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Duration
2 year secondment
Group
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Directorate
Education
Branch
Education Improvement Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Welsh Government has changed the way that it engages with local authorities and schools, in the context of the Strategic Review of Education Partners, to provide more active support to enable a self-improving system which improves educational standards for learners in Wales. This is now set out as part of the new School Improvement Guidance published on 5 January 2026.
We have established the Education Improvement Team within Welsh Government, who lead on more regular strategic engagement with local authorities to share national priorities, develop cross-sector understanding, and provide national support as appropriate. The Team will look to build up over time if and as needed. It actively seeks to represent WG education priorities in an integrated way so will represent key education policy areas.
We are recruiting two secondees to work closely with local authorities and schools to ensure national priorities are clear, build a better understanding of local challenges and experiences to inform national policy, and to facilitate connection and join up across Wales to support delivery of national priorities. They will contribute to the overall national understanding of the progress of the school-to-school collaborative improvement model set out in the recent guidance.
Specifically, We Are Looking To Recruit
- An individual with current / recent experience of school leadership, particularly in respect of leading self-evaluation and improvement planning within and across schools. It would also be beneficial for this individual to have some system leadership experience, working across schools either locally or nationally.
- An individual with current / recent experience of working in a leading role within school improvement / inclusion at local, regional or national level.
Welsh language is desirable for both posts and the postholders will need to be prepared to travel across Wales at times over the period.
The appointment will be as a secondment for up to 2 years. A part-time arrangement will be considered. There will be no possibility of extending the contract as the policy is to ensure that expertise and knowledge is shared across the system and that these posts provide a learning opportunity for partners across the sector.
The roles outlined above will complement the existing capacity of the Education Improvement Team.
Welsh language is desirable for both posts and the postholders will need to be prepared to travel across Wales at times over the period.
The appointment will be as a secondment for up to 2 years. A part-time arrangement will be considered. There will be no possibility of extending the contract as the policy is to ensure that expertise and knowledge is shared across the system and that these posts provide a learning opportunity for partners across the sector.
Key tasks
As part of the new Education Improvement Team, communicate a clear set of national priorities and focus areas for local authorities and schools,
in the context of the National Improvement Framework. Keep these priorities under review on an annual basis as part of the work of the EIT.
Contribute to and support a national information-sharing cycle which includes schools, local authorities and national government, to ensure agile ongoing information-sharing on successes and opportunities as well as issues and challenges, to enable success to be shared across, up and down and help the system to respond to challenges.
As part of the EIT, discuss with local authorities their local improvement priorities and challenges throughout the year via a range of engagements including online and in-person workshops and a National Education Improvement Network. The EIT will also work closely with the Ministerial Headteacher Advisory Group to ensure that they connect with the voice of school leadership regularly.
School improvement is a process which enables our national priorities to be achieved in an integrated and coherent way. As information becomes available through school improvement discussions with local authorities and their schools, Welsh Government can act on this appropriately to support schools and local authorities. The EIT plays a key role in ensuring the education directorate team within Welsh Government receive and understand this information. The EIT will also share this intelligence with Dysgu, our new Professional Learning and Leadership body, so that they can tailor national PL to the current needs of the sector.
Development opportunities
Experience of national government, policy and engagement.
Other vacancy related information
Contribute to and support a national information-sharing cycle which includes schools, local authorities and national government, to ensure agile ongoing information-sharing on successes and opportunities as well as issues and challenges, to enable success to be shared across, up and down and help the system to respond to challenges.
As part of the EIT, discuss with local authorities their local improvement priorities and challenges throughout the year via a range of engagements including online and in-person workshops and a National Education Improvement Network. The EIT will also work closely with the Ministerial Headteacher Advisory Group to ensure that they connect with the voice of school leadership regularly.
School improvement is a process which enables our national priorities to be achieved in an integrated and coherent way. As information becomes available through school improvement discussions with local authorities and their schools, Welsh Government can act on this appropriately to support schools and local authorities. The EIT plays a key role in ensuring the education directorate team within Welsh Government receive and understand this information. The EIT will also share this intelligence with Dysgu, our new Professional Learning and Leadership body, so that they can tailor national PL to the current needs of the sector.
Development opportunities
Experience of national government, policy and engagement.
Other vacancy related information
- This opportunity will be a secondment to Welsh Government, and the successful candidate will remain on their employer’s terms and conditions of service and current basic salary.
Basic
Number of posts
2
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Alun Jones - SIID.Correspondence@gov.wales
Welsh language requirements
3 - 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.
Understanding by reading
0 - No skills
Speaking and being understood
0 - No skills
Understanding by listening
0 - No skills
Writing and being understood
0 - No 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.
Behaviour 1
The selection process and stages are:
Leadership
Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role
Behaviour 2
Seeing the Big Picture
Adopt a government wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy
Behaviour 3
Changing and Improving
Encourage, recognise and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders
Behaviour 4
Working Together
Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
Evidence to provide
CV, Experience questions
Experience 1
Experience of working at a senior leadership level in the education sector in Wales, in particular either a school or local authority employment
Experience 2
Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders constructively, building strong and trusting relationships to support improvement
You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.
Nationality Requirements
Leadership
Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role
Behaviour 2
Seeing the Big Picture
Adopt a government wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy
Behaviour 3
Changing and Improving
Encourage, recognise and share innovative ideas from a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders
Behaviour 4
Working Together
Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on shared objectives
Evidence to provide
CV, Experience questions
Experience 1
Experience of working at a senior leadership level in the education sector in Wales, in particular either a school or local authority employment
Experience 2
Experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders constructively, building strong and trusting relationships to support improvement
You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
Secondments are fixed term options for no more than two years, open to individuals not employed as a Civil Servant (this includes those employed by Non-Departmental Government Bodies). Sometimes posts are advertised as a secondment opportunity. If this is the case it will state it above. Secondees have different terms and conditions, please refer to the guidance pack before applying. Secondees are not entitled to the benefits listed below including those relating to Social Partnership.
All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:
- 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
Secondments are fixed term options for no more than two years, open to individuals not employed as a Civil Servant (this includes those employed by Non-Departmental Government Bodies). Sometimes posts are advertised as a secondment opportunity. If this is the case it will state it above. Secondees have different terms and conditions, please refer to the guidance pack before applying. Secondees are not entitled to the benefits listed below including those relating to Social Partnership.
All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:
- Civil Service Pension Scheme
If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.
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.
How To Apply
All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.
Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.
If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:
- request an application pack in an alternative format
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.