Services Director / Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer / Services Director
Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA)
Location: Cardiff (with hybrid working)
Salary: £81,000 - £95,544 (SCS1) Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Contract: Permanent

Lead the Next Phase of Wales' Digital Revenue Services

Yolk Recruitment is proud to be supporting the Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) in the appointment of a new Chief Operating Officer / Services Director - a critical senior leadership role at a pivotal moment in the organisation's development.

Since its establishment in 2018, the WRA has delivered over £2 billion in devolved taxes to support public services across Wales. As the organisation expands its responsibilities to include the Visitor Levy and the National Register of Visitor Accommodation Providers, the WRA is evolving into a broader, services-based organisation. This role sits at the heart of that transformation.

This is a rare opportunity to shape how national services are delivered in Wales, within an organisation recognised for its culture, innovation and fairness.

As Chief Operating Officer / Services Director, you will drive the WRA's end-to-end service delivery, leading high-quality, efficient and customer-focused services across a diverse, multidisciplinary portfolio. Championing the WRA's 'Our Approach', you will oversee performance, continuous improvement, budgets and resources, while acting as Senior Responsible Officer for the Visitor Levy and National Registration programme from delivery through to business as usual. As a member of the WRA Board and Executive Committee, you will also be a visible ambassador for the organisation, building strong relationships across Welsh Government, local authorities and key UK stakeholders.

About You

We are seeking an ambitious, collaborative and values-driven leader with:

• Senior leadership experience in service delivery or operational environments, ideally within tax, public services or regulated settings.
• A proven track record of leading complex, multidisciplinary teams and delivering organisational change.
• Strong governance, financial and risk management capability, including experience of managing budgets.
• The confidence and credibility to work effectively with Ministers and senior stakeholders in a complex political environment.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a passion for inclusive leadership and continuous improvement.
• The ability to lead through ambiguity, shaping new ways of working as services and responsibilities expand.

Welsh language skills are not essential, but the successful candidate will be supported to learn and develop them. As a Disability Confident Leader, the WRA guarantees interviews to all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria.

Why Join the WRA?

• 34-39 days annual leave (including public holidays and privilege day).
• Generous Civil Service pension scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Support for continuous professional development and free Welsh language learning.
• Inclusive and highly engaged workplace, consistently ranked among the best in the Civil Service for equality and fair treatment.

How to Apply

This appointment is being managed by Yolk Recruitment on behalf of the Welsh Revenue Authority.

Closing date: Tuesday 27th January (12:00 noon)

Candidate information session: This is open to all candidates - it offers an opportunity to hear from the CEO and the Chief People and Communications Officer to learn more about the WRA and this opportunity. We encourage everyone to log into one of these virtual sessions:

• Tuesday 20th January at 4pm Business Wales Events Finder - Candidate Information Session - Services Director / Chief Operating Officer (please refer to the Civil Service Jobs website to access if this link fails)

• Thursday 22nd January at 12.30pm Business Wales Events Finder - Candidate Information Session - Services Director / Chief Operating Officer (please refer to the Civil Service Jobs website to access if this link fails)

Interviews: Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th February

To apply, please submit your CV (no longer than 2,000 words) and statement of suitability (no longer than 1,250 words) via Yolk Recruitment.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact the Hannah Welfoot at Yolk Recruitment.