Chief Officer Human Resources

Dear Applicant

Thank you for your interest in this exciting and challenging role.

Cardiff has been reinvented in the last thirty years as an internationally recognised capital city. This success can be seen in the rapid growth of the city’s population, with Cardiff, as the Capital City of Wales, now one of the UK’s fastest growing and most highly skilled cities.

The Council’s administration has set out its policy commitments in ‘Stronger, Fairer, Greener’, which sets out a programme of action to tackle inequality, manage growth sustainably and reform public services, whilst ensuring that the benefits of the city’s success are felt by all residents.

But, like other local authorities across the UK, Cardiff is facing some of the most significant financial and service pressures in a generation. Demand for services continue to grow, whilst the cost of delivering them has never been higher. At the same time, the funding available to us is not keeping pace with these pressures.

As an organisation, we have to rethink and, where necessary, redesign the way many of our services are delivered, focussing increasingly on delivering preventative, joined-up public services, on supporting inclusive, green growth and on using technology to improve access to citizens and support our staff to deliver excellent services.

We must move away from dealing with problems in isolation and begin to integrate frontline teams that are empowered to address the day-to-day issues we know need solving. In the same way, individual directorates can no longer operate as silos: the Council must act as one seamless team to drive improvement across the city. More broadly, the Council must work in partnership with other public services to deliver lasting solutions to addressing complex problems and inequality.

A successful capital city is also a national, not just a regional, asset. We must be an outward-looking city, working with all our partners to make sure that Cardiff’s success is shared with local people, regional partners and the country as a whole. Cardiff must be a capital city that works for Wales.

We invite you to take up the challenge with us.

Councillor Huw Thomas
Leader of the Council

Dear Applicant

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of our Senior Management Team – working collaboratively in a leading public sector organisation with 13,000 employees and a net budget of over £900 million that delivers vital services to over 380,000 residents.

Cardiff Council is the largest local authority in Wales. As a key provider of local public services, we are looking for a creative, experienced and effective Chief Human Resources Officer with the ability to explore new ways of working across boundaries and sectors, and to help us achieve the best possible outcomes for the citizens and communities we serve.

The Council’s ambitious agenda aims to position Cardiff at the forefront of local government, based on a commitment to delivering high quality public services and a city development programme that continues to underpin the achievements of a successful European Capital City. Securing the right person to lead our dedicated HR team is an important enabler – an important step in helping us to deliver the Council’s Stronger, Fairer, Greener agenda.

As a member of an experienced, talented and committed Senior Management Team, the Chief HR Officer leads on a wide range of corporate and cross-cutting initiatives and policies – playing a key role in ensuring that the Council’s workforce evolves to meet current and future demands. It involves operating in a complex and dynamic environment with priorities that include equality and diversity; social partnership with trade union partners; recruitment and retention; the development of sound policy frameworks; the promotion of good practice; effective staff engagement; and extensive professional development.

The job is a demanding one. But it provides a major opportunity for a senior and experienced HR professional to take the next step in their career, working at the heart of a progressive and dynamic public organisation in the Capital City of Wales. 

Yours sincerely

Paul Orders
Chief Executive

Chief Officer Human Resources

About The Service

Cardiff is a vibrant and diverse city, and one of the fastest growing cities in the UK. As a major employer of 13,000 employees working across the Council’s services and in schools, the Council is reliant on an efficient and effective Human Resources function as a key enabler for the delivery of relevant aspects of the administration’s Stronger Fairer Greener commitments and the Council’s Corporate Plan.

About The Job

Reporting to the Corporate Director Resources, you will be responsible for providing quality human resources expertise across the Council. Your strategic focus and people-centred approach will ensure that the Council, as a major employer in the city, is well placed to respond to current and future challenges.

As a member of the Council’s Senior Management Team, you will play an integral strategic role in leading highly effective human resources service delivery, reshaping the Council and driving performance to ensure continued focus on improvement.

What We Are Looking for From You

You will be able to perform at your best working at a strategic level in a large organisation. Your in depth understanding of public services will enable you to deliver service change, and to shape and influence the way that human resources services are delivered. You will also have the ability to contribute to corporate improvement outside of your direct remit.

You will be articulate, credible and able to win respect by giving clear expert advice. You will have the ability to think strategically and handle complex issues with ease.

A confident communicator, you will quickly establish effective professional relationships across the Council, including with trade union partners, as well as across the broader HR network in Wales and beyond.

You will have a proven track record in human resources management.

This post is politically restricted in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (as amended by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009).

Indicative timetable

Closing date: Midnight Thursday 5 June 2025
Assessment Centre: June 2025 (Dates TBC)
Interviews: July 2025 (Dates TBC)

Please let us know if there are any interview dates in the indicative timetable on which you are likely to be unavailable.

To arrange a confidential discussion about the role please contact:

Zara Bruton
Tel: 0121 312 3755
Email: zbruton@faerfield.co.uk

Dawn Faulkner
Tel: 0121 312 3755
Email: dfaulkner@faerfield.co.uk