Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Engagement and Policy
Cardiff and Llandudno Junction, Wales (with hybrid working)
Welsh Essential

Social Care Wales is looking for a talented individual to lead our communication, stakeholder engagement, customer service standards and policy insight. This role will work at a national level, helping to shape the future of social care in Wales.

About Us

Social Care Wales provides leadership and expertise in social care and early years in Wales.

Our vision is to make a positive difference to care and support for children, adults and their families and carers.

To do this, we lead on developing and regulating the social care workforce, service improvement, data and research to improve care.

We are now looking for an Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Engagement and Policy to join us on a permanent basis. This role is offered with flexible working options, and we will consider candidates as part of a job share.

The Benefits

- Salary of £68,156 - £76,547 per annum
- 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- Local government pension scheme
- Flexible work policy
- Hybrid working from home and our office as required
- Family leave policy

The Role

As the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Engagement and Policy, you will lead our strategic approaches to external communication, stakeholder engagement, customer relationship management and policy insight.

You will work with the Executive Team and leadership group to deliver our strategic vision, shape organisational messaging, and develop trusted, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders.

Specifically, you will:

- Lead the delivery of our marketing and communications strategy
- Oversee how we approach stakeholder engagement, customer service, and internal communications
- Provide advice and briefings to the Chief Executive and Executive Management Team
- Co-ordinate responses to the Welsh Government and Senedd consultations
- Represent Social Care Wales in external forums and with the media
- Collaborate with sector leaders to raise the profile of social care and early years in Wales

About You

To be considered as the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Engagement and Policy, you will need:

- Proven experience in developing impactful engagement and communication strategies
- Experience advising senior leaders and navigating complex policy issues
- Strategic knowledge of the broad policy landscape in Wales
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- The ability to build strong partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Strong leadership, influencing, and communication skills
- The ability to lead teams, manage ambiguity, and drive strategic change
- Professional qualification(s) and/or equivalent experience in a relevant field

Please note that Welsh Language skills are essential for this role, and you will not be shortlisted if you do not meet this criteria.

The closing date for this role is 07 September 2025, and the interviews will take place on 19 September 2025.

Other organisations may call this role Director of Communications, Head of External Affairs, Policy Director, or Assistant Director of External Relations.

Reasonable adjustments can be made at any stage of the recruitment process for candidates with a disability, impairment or health condition, for example who are neuro-divergent or who use British Sign Language. Please get in touch with the HR Team to discuss adjustments for any part of the process.

You must be based in the UK to apply for this role and be able to visit one of the stated offices when required.

So, if you’re ready to join us as our Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Engagement and Policy, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.

PhD Student Placement (Administrative Data Research Wales social care programme)
Cardiff or Llandudno Junction (with hybrid working)

About Us

Social Care Wales provides leadership and expertise in social care and early years in Wales.

Our vision is to make a positive difference to care and support for children, adults and their families and carers.

To do this, we lead on developing and regulating the social care workforce, service improvement, data and research to improve care.

We are currently looking for a PhD Student to join our Administrative Data Research (ADR) Wales programme, either for three months on a full-time basis or six months on a part-time basis.

This role will receive a fixed monthly stipend of £1,855 per month for three months (pro rata for part-time students).

You must be based in the UK to apply for this role and be able to visit one of the stated offices when required (on minimal occasions).

The Role

As a PhD Student, you will contribute to our ADR Wales programme by supporting the development of social care research using linked data, while gaining experience in a real-world policy environment.

Working within the Research, Data and Innovation team, you’ll support the promotion and delivery of social care research that makes use of administrative data.

Depending on your research interests and stage of study, you may contribute to data acquisition projects, promote findings from our priority-setting exercises, and engage with our adult social care linked data research group.

You’ll also encourage the use of the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, helping communicate the value of data-driven research, and develop your skills in linked data methods.

Additionally, you will:

- Write promotional content to highlight the value of linked data research
- Support researchers and stakeholders involved in adult social care data projects

About You

To be considered as a PhD Student, you will need:

- To be currently undertaking or about to commence (from September/October 2025) a PhD related to social care at a Higher Education Institution in Wales
- An interest in using linked data or large datasets in social care research
- Knowledge of a range of data science, quantitative and statistical analysis techniques
- Skills in using software for statistical analysis (e.g. R/Python/STATA)

Closing Date: 25th August 2025

Other organisations may call this role Data Science Researcher, Social Care Research Assistant, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Research Analyst (Social Care), or PhD Research Student.

Reasonable adjustments can be made at any stage of the recruitment process for candidates with a disability, impairment or health condition, for example who are neuro-divergent or who use British Sign Language. Please get in touch with the HR Team to discuss adjustments for any part of the process.

So, if you’d like to join us as a PhD Student, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit. The services advertised by Webrecruit are those of an Employment Agency.