Director of Corporate Services

The Opportunity

Adnodd is a new company created by Welsh Government to secure easy access for all learners and teachers to innovative, high-quality, and bilingual resources that will enrich their experience of the Curriculum for Wales. Adnodd will provide strategic direction and work with practitioners and content creators across the education landscape to commission and quality assure the education resources that will help learners to succeed.

Yolk Recruitment is supporting Adnodd to recruit a Director of Corporate Services. As a key member of Adnodd's Senior Management Team (SMT), you will play an important part leading the organisation and fostering an empowering, learning, and dynamic culture. You will work closely with Adnodd's Board, colleagues, suppliers, funders, and stakeholders to uphold high standards of corporate governance, integrity and compliance. In time, you will recruit and manage a small team of staff to ensure effective and efficient delivery of Adnodd's corporate services.

The Role

You will play a crucial role in ensuring the effective delivery of all Adnodd's corporate functions. As an experienced senior manager, you will lead on all aspects of Adnodd's corporate operations to secure effective systems and contracts for their finance, corporate governance, commercial, human resources, IT, compliance and administrative functions, to include:

Financial Management -

• Financial management, planning and control, ensuring statutory obligations are met and working closely with External Auditors.
• Provide strategic leadership and set the standards for robust financial management across Adnodd, ensuring that key stakeholders are provided with appropriate advice.

Human Resources -

• Lead on developing and implementing HR policies and procedures to promote a positive work culture and employee engagement.
• Ensure effective delivery of HR functions, including recruitment, performance management, training, and employee relations in compliance with employment laws and regulations and Welsh Government framework agreements.

IT Supply, Equipment and Cybersecurity -

• Ensure effective management of IT systems, infrastructure, and equipment to support operational efficiency and security.
• Collaborate with IT professionals to identify and implement technology solutions that align with organisational needs and deliver value for money within budgetary constraints.

Procurement and Contract Management -

• Lead on developing and implementing procurement strategies to optimise value for money and mitigate risks.
• Oversee the procurement process, including tendering, supplier selection, and contract management, ensuring activities are conducted in accordance with relevant policies and regulations.

Governance -

• Strengthen and maintain governance frameworks, controls and procedures to ensure robust compliance with legal, statutory and reporting requirements.
• Line-manage the Executive and Governance Support officer to support effective delivery of Board liaison and administration, and delivery and improvement of governance and corporate functions and processes.

Requirements

The successful Director of Corporate Services will possess the following experience, qualifications and attributes:

• Proven experience in corporate and financial management and governance, preferably in a similar role.
• Demonstrable senior leadership experience, including ensuring a positive and enabling organisational culture and working effectively with colleagues at Board and executive level.
• Proven experience of strategic and operational financial planning, management, budgeting, and reporting. A relevant professional financial qualification is highly desirable for this role.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully shaping, delivering and adapting business plans to achieve strategic objectives, balance competing priorities and navigate challenges, particularly during periods of change or growth.
• Excellent leadership skills, capable of enabling organisations to establish and implement effective systems for delivery and compliance.
• Knowledge of corporate governance principles and practice, and of regulatory and statutory compliance and reporting.
• Strategic and analytical thinker with the ability to align delivery of corporate services with organisational goals.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style and a strong team player.
• Results-oriented and proactive approach to addressing challenges.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

Language Proficiency

• At least an intermediate level of Cymraeg (Welsh) is essential for this role.
• The day-to-day conversational language of the company is Cymraeg and Adnodd is fully committed to support all staff to strengthen their Cymraeg skills and confidence.
• When discussing and presenting technical and operational matters, both Cymraeg and English are used flexibly, with colleagues supported and encouraged to build their Cymraeg skills over time.

Reward

The successful Director of Corporate Services will be rewarded with:

• Starting salary of £71,500
• Flexible working
• Annual leave of 30 days + public holidays + St David's Day
• Civil service pension
• A range of additional benefits

Adnodd is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and strive to create a supportive and inclusive work environment for all employees.

We welcome applications in Welsh or English.

Yolk Recruitment is the exclusive recruitment partner to Adnodd and therefore all applications will be managed by the team at Yolk following Adnodd's own fair and transparent recruitment process.