The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate's name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
Vacancy title
Deputy Director Sustainable Futures
21/09/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis Permanent
Circa £ 86,000 although some flexibility may be available for an exceptional candidate.
Payband SCS1
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 First Minister's Group
Directorate Welsh Government Strategy Directorate
Location (s) Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means the post holder can be based in any Welsh Government office, subject to business needs. Roles based outside Wales, including London, are not available unless explicitly stated in the advert.
A list of the Welsh Government's offices can be found on . Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
The post holder's travel from their home to their assigned Welsh Government office is considered their 'ordinary commute' and must be done in their own time and at their own cost.
Purpose of post The post is part of the new Welsh Government Strategy Directorate, within the First Minister and Cabinet Office Group.
The post holder will lead an effective, integrated team which works flexibly across at high pace across a range of complex and novel issues, rapidly adapting to emerging requirements.
The postholder will lead on continuing to mainstream the Well-being of Future Generations Act within Welsh Government, advising Ministers and senior officials on the Welsh Government's own responsibilities under the Act, and promoting integrated policy making across government.
They will also be responsible for the Equality Impact Improvement team who lead and manage the delivery of a cross organisational 'Section 23 Action Plan' to bring about organisational reform and culture change in the way that equality impacts are considered from the start of our policy making, ensuring that equality impact assessments have been properly undertaken and that statutory equality duties have been met.
Key tasks The postholder will work across Government and with partners to further develop and deliver approaches to mainstream the Wellbeing of Future Generations within Welsh Government policy making, boost policy capability and act as lead advisor on ensuring the Welsh Government fulfils its own responsibilities under the Act.
The postholder will liaise closely with the office of the Future Generations Commissioner and strengthen cross-Wales and international networks on wellbeing policy.
The postholder will:
- Lead through influence across Welsh Government and the public sector to embed sustainable development across all public bodies covered by the Well-being of Future Generation Act.
- Provide leadership, direction and support for Sustainable Futures Division staff and across Welsh Government.
- Promote and embed the Well-being of Future Generations as an operating system for the Welsh Government, including refreshing guidance, delivering training, and leading staff engagement sessions.
- Build capacity and understanding across Welsh Government through champions, networks, and knowledge sharing.
- Act as the lead advisor on ensuring the Welsh Government fulfils its own responsibilities under the WFG Act, advising ExCo and the WG Board as necessary.
- Work closely with senior officials, special advisors and Ministers to deliver the Welsh Government's Well being and Future Generations objectives.
- Lead on the delivery of grants to Public Services Boards (PSBs), the Future Generations Commissioner, and Sustainable Futures Divisional funding.
- Lead on benchmarking policy skills and applying future trends within policy development.
- Deliver enhancements to the practice and process of assessing impact, especially where there are statutory obligations.
- Provide leadership, management and oversight for the effective delivery of the Equality Impact Improvement action plan and provide timely progress updates on s23 to ExCo and the Welsh Government Board.
Other vacancy related information Location You may be contractually based at any of the main Welsh Government offices in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Llandudno Junction or Aberystwyth. We support hybrid working and tailoring patterns to suit individual circumstances. The role requires occasional travel to Cardiff.
Salary The role is at Director level (SCS1) and the starting salary is circa £86,000 although some flexibility may be available for an exceptional candidate.
For existing Civil Servants - if you are a substantive Deputy Director applying on a lateral transfer basis to the Welsh Government you will retain your existing salary. If you are an existing civil servant applying on promotion, the starting pay on promotion will usually attract a 10% increase in base pay or be at the pay band minimum, whichever is greater.
Secondment - if you are applying for this role on a secondment basis, you will retain your existing terms and conditions including salary (subject to approvals).
Please contact if you would like to discuss terms and conditions and salary level.
Contract Type Permanent or a secondment/loan for up to 2 years initially.
Applications are welcome from people who work full -time, part-time or as part of a job share. If you do not have a job-share partnership in place and would welcome a discussion with the aim of forming one for this post, please contact . We cannot guarantee a partner can be found.
Welsh Language Requirements Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, but they would be an asset. We expect the successful candidate to develop their Welsh language skills on appointment and we will fully support them to do this, with training available. As is the case in respect of other requirements, reasonable adjustments can be discussed on appointment.
Vetting level SC - Candidates applying for a role that requires SC clearance must have normally resided in the UK for a minimum of the last 5 years
Number of posts 1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
Candidate pack / supporting information (Welsh) Final candidate pack - Welsh.pdf - 643KB Opens in a new window
The successful candidate will need to have a range of experience, skills and experience, including:
Behaviours (assessed at application and interview)
- Leadership - work to influence the strategy, direction and culture to increase effectiveness
- Working Together - proactively create, maintain and promote a strong network of contacts across the organisation and externally
- Seeing the Big Picture - identify and shape how your work area fits within and supports the priorities of the organisation
- Communicating and Influencing - influence external partners, stakeholders and customers successfully securing mutually beneficial outcomes
Experience (assessed at application and interview) 1. Experience of championing and nurturing best practice relating to the Well-being of Future Generations Act in particular the five ways of working, including futures thinking.
2. Experience of working on equalities issues, including stakeholder engagement, organisational improvement and impact assessments.
In the event of a large number of applications the sift will be undertaken on the lead Behaviour of 'Leadership' and lead Experience point 1 of 'championing and nurturing best practice relating to the Well-being of Future Generations Act, in particular the five ways of working, including futures thinking'.
Social Model of Disability Welsh Government has adopted the social model of disability, which recognises that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments, or health conditions, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language.
We are committed to removing barriers in the recruitment process so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best.
Recruitment adjustments can be made at any part of the recruitment process for candidates with an impairment or health condition, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language.
We are committed to inclusive recruitment and offer interviews to eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role through the following schemes:
Disability Confident The Welsh Government is a Disability Confident Leader. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any candidate with an impairment, health condition, who is neurodivergent or who uses British Sign Language if they meet the minimum criteria for the post.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans The Welsh Government operates the Great Place to Work for Veterans Initiative. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the post.
Redeployment Interview Scheme Civil Service employers can offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum criteria for the post
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