Head of Monument Conservation

Vacancy title

Head of Monument Conservation

Closing date

15/05/2026, 16:00

Advertising basis

Permanent

Actual starting salary

£61,098

Salary range or pay band

Grade 7 £61,098 to £73,057

Allowances

Yes

Allowance

Other

Allowance

Essential Car Users Allowance

Work pattern

Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)

Group

Education, Culture and Welsh Language

Directorate

Cadw

Branch

Properties in Care

Location (s)

Pan Wales

Purpose of post

This role is responsible for ensuring Cadw’s 132 historic monuments across Wales, in state care are in good condition, accessible and safe for visitors.

The role will be responsible for ensuring Cadw always knows what the general condition of its monuments are, and which maintenance and remedial work is a priority.

The role will be responsible for a system of regular inspections to ensure monuments are safe and required maintenance / remedial issues are known and mitigation planned.

The role will be responsible for developing Cadw’s in-house direct labour craft team of masons and joiners, including trainees, into a robust, well trained and supported team.

There are approximately 30 people in this team, mostly craft skilled masons and joiners.

Key tasks

• Lead and inspire a team of approximately 30 people dedicated to the conservation of Cadw’s monuments and their setting. Ensure work priorities are clear and can be monitored for progress quarterly, that robust training and development plans are in place and all teams have access to the resources/ equipment they need to do their job effectively.
• Take responsibility for developing a robust system to monitor the condition of all Cadw’s monuments, using the knowledge to plan a three-year rolling programme of prioritised conservation work and the budget required to deliver this programme, whether this is delivered through the in-house Cadwraeth team or through the appointment of external consultants or contractors.

Ensure Briefs or Invitations to Tender for condition reporting or digital measured surveys are clear and benchmarked to current industry standards.

Review the current ‘SafetyCulture’ inspection system Cadw uses to log issues of condition at monuments to ensure it is providing best value.

Lead on climate mitigation and adaptation for Cadw’s monuments in care.

Be responsible for managing the teams annual spend within the set team budget.

Work closely with the Head of Conservation Projects to ensure new projects are based on a sound understanding of monument condition.

Work closely with the Head of Health and Safety within Properties in Care to ensure team work programmes are tackling high priority safety issues.

Be responsible for the effective deployment of the Conservation Design and Project Manager and Historic Monuments Ground Manager within the team.

Take responsibility for effective recruitment, to keep vacancies to a minimum and ensure all issues relating to the effective management of people are dealt with efficiently.

Directly procure, or support the procurement of, external consultants or contractors to carry out maintenance and remedial conservation projects as required. Ensure best value for money and excellent quality work. Cadw has 3 Conservation Projects staff: this role will not therefore be expected to manage the large complex projects.

Develop and maintain an attractive trainee programme for masons and joiners.

Maintain close working relationships with comparative posts in other UK heritage organisations to ensure Cadw learns from best practice.

Development opportunities

• Will benefit from Welsh Government training courses and opportunities.
• Training will be supported for courses related to the post.
  
  

Other vacancy related information

Required Qualification

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or hold a post graduate qualification in a discipline related to historic building conservation and, be a full member or eligible to be a full member of registered as an architect with t he Architects Registration Board (ARB) , CIOB, RICS or IHBC.

CV

The CV should focus on your background working on significant historic buildings. The CV should also detail any professional qualifications in historic building conservation related disciplines, as well as membership in relevant professional organisations.

CVs will not be scored but will be used by the panel to gain a fuller understanding of your experience and employment history.

Location

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 regular overnight stays.

Many Cadw sites are in remote locations not easily accessible by public transport, therefore a full driving licence is required.

Interview

If your application is successful at sift, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview at the Welsh Government building, Merthyr.

A presentation on Experience 1 will be required at ‘interview stage’. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.

Merit Order

If after interview stage, there are successful candidates with the same score to determine merit order, the panel will first review interview score for experience 1 and then technical skills 1.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: 'Experience 1'. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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.

Vetting level

Basic

Number of posts

1

Contact point for further information regarding the post

cadw.hr@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

1 - Can read some basic words and phrases with understanding

Speaking and being understood

0 - No skills

Understanding by listening

1 - Can understand parts of a basic conversation

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:

Seeing the Big Picture

Ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies.

Behaviour 2

Leadership

Inspire and motivate teams to be fully engaged in their work and dedicated to their role.

Evidence to provide

CV, Experience questions

Experience 1

Proven track record in the effective development and delivery of prioritised maintenance / remedial conservation programmes for a portfolio of scheduled monuments and/ or listed buildings, preferably including ruins.

Experience 2

Proven track record of managing budgets for programmes of conservation work involving numerous projects.

Technical 1

Proven track record of developing and delivering technical building conservation projects and maintenance.

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:

• 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

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement
• Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
  
  

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

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

request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

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.

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.