Vacancy title: Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru - Appointment of Members - 1 x Welsh Essential, 1 x Welsh Desirable
How many positions: 1 x Welsh Essential, 1 x Welsh Desirable
Location: Cardiff or virtually via MS Teams
Time Commitment: Minimum of 1-2 days per month
Tenure of office: 4 years 6 months, to 31 March 2029
Remuneration: £282 per full day, £141 per half day
Closing date: 29/07/2024, 16:00
Appointment of Member to the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru (formerly known as the Local Democracy and Boundary Commission for Wales)
Role Description - what you will do
It is important to note commissioners of the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru will work across the full range of the body's functions, but each will have particular focus on a functional area. In the case of this current recruitment the functional responsibility is to co-ordinate the running of devolved elections in Wales, through the provision of advice and guidance to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers.
Strategic Functions
Members will:
- Oversee the delivery of Local Government Electoral Boundary Reviews, including one Member taking a Lead Commissioner role for each review.
- Oversee the delivery of Senedd Boundary Reviews.
- Determine the level of payments to elected and co-opted members of Unitary Councils, Town and Community Councils, National Park Authorities and Fire and Rescue Authorities.
- Co-ordinate the running of devolved elections in Wales, through the provision of advice and guidance to Returning Officers and Electoral Registration Officers (as part of the Electoral Management Board).
Board attendance and participation
- Chair and/or participate in sub-committees contributing to the delivery of programmes of work through the Governance and Audit (DBCC Deputy Chair and two Commissioners), Remuneration (at least four Commissioners) or Electoral Review (at least four Commissioners) sub committees.
- Chair and/or participate in the Electoral Management Board (two Commissioners, one as Chair, one as Board Member).
Stakeholder Management
- Ensure strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders.
- Lead Commissioner roles - Take responsibility for engagement and communication with council leaders, officers, and other key stakeholders across local government.
- Electoral Management Board roles - Ensure strong effective relationships with electoral administration staff, returning officers and wider stakeholders such as the Electoral Commission.
Communication and Engagement
- Ensure effective consultation and engagement on proposals in accordance with the Commission's Communication and Engagement strategy, ensuring feedback is used to support continuous learning and improvement.
- Ensure consultation is fully compliant with statutory legislative framework and used to inform decision making for all electoral reviews and remuneration determinations.
- Ensure Commission decisions are communicated clearly and all communications are accessible.
Analysis of information / use of research and evidence to support effective decision making
- Analyse and interpret information and make effective use of evidence to support panel decision making on Local Government Electoral and Senedd Boundary Review options and remuneration.
- Use research and evidence to support effective decision making of the Electoral Management Board.
- Identify trends across all aspects of Commission programmes to inform a research and evidence plan that ensures the Commission is contributing to the Democratic health of the nation.
- Use evidence and research in the provision of advice to the Welsh Government on the state of Democratic health in Wales.
Policy Development
- Develop policy, practice and robust methodology to support decision making.
- Provide guidance and advice to key stakeholders on the effective running of devolved elections in Wales, remuneration policy and determinations, and electoral reviews.
- Through shared learning, develop and implement guidance for the effective delivery of elections across Wales.
Legislative Framework
- Understand the legislative framework that impacts decisions and Commission work.
- Ensure the Commission is working within the legislative framework.
- Horizon scan for future changes to legislation that are likely to impact the functions of the Commission.
Corporate Governance
- Ensure the organisation is fit for purpose with effective corporate governance arrangements in place in respect to financial and risk management and organisational development.
- Ensure plans and policies are regularly reviewed.
- Provide leadership and strategic direction to the organisation and support the Chief Executive and senior leadership team to delivery corporate objectives and drive a culture of continuous improvement.
- Ensure the delivery of outcomes against the Commission strategy and organisational plan, delivery of Welsh Government objectives and that the Minister's Remit Letter is fulfilled.
Performance Management and Quality Assurance
- Oversee the quality assurance process for the production of draft and final reports.
- Ensure the effective monitoring of the Commission's performance.
Welsh Language
Essential
- Understanding - Can understand all work-related conversations
- Reading - Full understanding of all work-related material
- Speaking - Fluent
- Writing - Can prepare written material for all work-related matters
Desirable
- Understanding - Can understand basic conversations about everyday topics
- Reading - Can read simple material on everyday topics with understanding
- Speaking - Can converse in simple work-related conversations
- Writing - Can write simple work-related correspondence.