Cardiff
Job Summary
The Senedd Business Directorate is responsible for supporting Senedd business in plenary and committees. It comprises a number of Services, including those providing clerking support.
Clerking Support Is Arranged Into Three Services
- The Chamber and Committee Service (including the Chamber Secretariat and Table Office), and
- The Policy and Legislation Committee Service,
- Strategic Transformation Service
If successful you may be offered a position in one of these three services and there is an expectation that over time staff will rotate across positions within the services according to business needs. Roles may includes working with committees, support for Plenary and support for the Independent Remuneration Board.
As a Second Clerk you will work at the heart of Senedd business, to deliver outstanding parliamentary support by leading and taking overall responsibility for complex pieces of scrutiny work as well as procedural and other projects.
You will work within a team led by a Clerk, who provides strategic oversight and procedural expertise and you will be assisted by other support staff, and will have line management responsibilities.
You will work closely with colleagues in Legal Services, Communications, Translation and Reporting Services and the Research Service. The posts require the capacity to work as a member of a team, the ability to produce information which is clear and accurate and to offer sound, unbiased advice both in writing and orally. The post holder will need to demonstrate sound judgement, and win the trust and confidence of Committee Chairs Senedd Members and senior staff, and to manage relationships with all those involved in the work of Committees, both internal and external to Senedd Cymru. Clerks must, at all times, be politically impartial.
Job Description
Key tasks will include (but dependent on role):
- Support the Clerk to ensure the efficient and effective operation of Senedd business, including, planning, organising and facilitating activities in order to assist the delivery of parliamentary business of the highest standard.
- Provide accurate, impartial, appropriate and timely procedural and handling advice on the content and conduct of business as required, to Members and their staff, and other Senedd staff.
- Lead individual inquiries, drafting clear, accurate and often politically sensitive reports and papers to tight deadlines.
- Support the scrutiny of primary legislation (from pre-introduction, through the amending stages, to after Royal Assent) and, where necessary subordinate legislation.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues from different service areas across the Senedd to provide tailored and integrated support to Members
- Drive up quality and innovation in the team’s output, leading by example in your own work and promoting a culture of excellence within the team.
- Share responsibility for – and contribute to – the leadership and development of the Policy and Legislation Committee Service/Committee and Chamber Service/Strategic Transformation Service.
- Develop links with external stakeholders, academics, colleagues in other legislature and others connected with the work of your committee.
- Line management responsibilities within the team.
Key Tasks Will Include (but Dependent On Role)
- Support the Clerk to ensure the efficient and effective operation of Senedd business, including, planning, organising and facilitating activities in order to assist the delivery of parliamentary business of the highest standard.
- Provide accurate, impartial, appropriate and timely procedural and handling advice on the content and conduct of business as required, to Members and their staff, and other Senedd staff.
- Lead individual inquiries, drafting clear, accurate and often politically sensitive reports and papers to tight deadlines.
- Support the scrutiny of primary legislation (from pre-introduction, through the amending stages, to after Royal Assent) and, where necessary subordinate legislation.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues from different service areas across the Senedd to provide tailored and integrated support to Members
- Drive up quality and innovation in the team’s output, leading by example in your own work and promoting a culture of excellence within the team.
- Share responsibility for – and contribute to – the leadership and development of the Policy and Legislation Committee Service/Committee and Chamber Service/Strategic Transformation Service.
- Develop links with external stakeholders, academics, colleagues in other legislature and others connected with the work of your committee.
- Line management responsibilities within the team.
Person specification
Job Specific Criteria
- Political sensitivity: a proven ability to win the trust and confidence of politicians and/or senior staff, showing an understanding of varying priorities whilst demonstrating neutrality and sound judgement.
- Analytical skills: the ability to draft reports and briefing materials concisely and to a high standard, analysing and clearly communicating complex information across a range of subjects, to identify and present key issues for consideration by committee members.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, adapting your style to suit your audience and to influence and persuade individuals.
- Team Working: Ability to work effectively across teams, services and directorates to deliver high quality, ‘joined up’ support to enable the committee to work as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Alongside your salary of £47,254, Welsh Parliament contributes £13,689 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Selection process details
Details of the Selection Process: Candidates are required to complete an application form through our recruitment portal addressing the job specific and desirable criteria.
Closing Date for applications: 01 June 2025
Your application must be submitted before midnight on the closing date.
You will be updated on your progress via the email address you first register with. Please check your Junk Mail and Spam folders to make sure you don’t miss any future correspondence.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
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) (opens in a new window)
- 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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact
- Name : Aled Elwyn Jones
- Email : aled.jones@senedd.wales
- Telephone : 0300 200 6384
Recruitment team
- Email : jobs@senedd.wales
Further information
https://senedd.wales/work-opportunities/