We're pleased to be supporting Qualifications Wales with the appointment of a new Executive Director of Regulation.

Qualifications Wales is the independent regulator of qualifications and the qualification system in Wales. It is responsible for ensuring that qualifications and the qualifications system are effective in meeting the reasonable needs of learners in Wales, and for promoting public confidence in these.

Qualifications Wales has a publicly appointed Chair and Board who are accountable for the fulfilment of Qualifications Wales' statutory functions and of its obligations to Welsh Government as a Welsh Government Sponsored Body. Executive Directors have a shared responsibility for the effective leadership of Qualifications Wales, for defining strategic direction and priorities, managing control mechanisms and ensuring overall stewardship and performance management of the organisation.

Key Information

• Location: Newport with a hybrid approach, relocation support could be considered.
• Contract: Permanent and full-time, requests for alternative working patterns can be discussed at interview.
• Salary: £85,000 - £97,000 depending on experience, along with civil service pension (employer contribution of 28.97%), 30 days' annual leave, and other competitive benefits. Relocation support could be considered.
• Deadline: 15^th June 2025

Job Purpose

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Executive Director of Regulation will provide strategic leadership to the Regulation directorate, comprising of four teams; Approval and Designation, VQ Monitoring and Awarding Body Compliance, GQ Monitoring and Standards, and Regulatory Policy.

The directorate is responsible for the development and implementation of regulatory policy, and for the ongoing review of the effectiveness of awarding bodies in their work to deliver qualifications and the qualifications system in Wales.

The post holder is accountable for the operational delivery of a range of key regulatory duties and activities and, within the scheme of delegation, is responsible for making a range of enforcement decisions in the exercise of Qualifications Wales' powers.

The Executive Director is responsible for the design and implementation of an effective regulatory framework and approach that engenders positive and appropriate relationships with the awarding bodies that we regulate. The role is also the primary point of leadership in relation to operational cooperation and coordination across fellow qualifications regulators - ensuring positive relationships are maintained.

Summary of Requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• A track record of effective strategic leadership and management which demonstrates the ability to build, develop and manage teams of professionals.
• Evidence of extensive experience in a regulatory or qualifications context.
• Experience of engendering a structured and effective approach to the management of programmes and projects
• A thorough knowledge of regulatory principles, and how to apply these, and managing regulatory burden.
• A thorough knowledge of the risks inherent in regulatory systems.
• A good understanding of UK qualifications systems.
• Leadership skills, with a proven ability to lead and motivate their directorate to deliver. Delegating delivery of operational priorities to their direct reports and supporting them in the management and leadership of their teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to provide written and oral advice. Diplomacy and the ability to lead and influence in a sophisticated manner.

Please refer to the full candidate pack below for the full responsibilities, requirements and further information.

Candidate Pack (English)

Candidate Pack (Welsh)

To Apply

Qualifications Wales have retained Acorn by Synergie to support and manage this round of recruitment. To learn more, please contact: luke.robert@acornpeople.com / 07551 353 260

If you would like to apply, please submit the following for consideration ahead of the deadline on 15^th June 2025:

• Updated CV
• Supporting statement (maximum of 2,000 words) detailing your motivation for applying and your suitability with the person specification in consideration.

Our intention is to interview on Thursday 3^rd July in Newport.

If you have any issues with these dates or require any further reasonable adjustments as part of the process then please contact Luke Robért.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Acorn by Synergie acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment.