This is one of the most important people leadership roles in Wales today.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service serves more than 1.6 million people across ten local authority areas. We protect communities, respond to emergencies, and work every day to reduce risk and improve wellbeing across South Wales. At the heart of that mission are our 1,700 talented people.

We are looking for an exceptional Director of People & Organisational Development to join our Executive Leadership Team and help shape the next chapter of our Service.

This is a rare opportunity to lead cultural transformation at scale. Following independent review and national inspection, we are implementing an ambitious programme of change to build an outstanding, inclusive and values-led organisation. We have a clear vision for the future and are seeking a leader with the credibility, resilience and ambition to help deliver it.

You will lead our People & OD function, driving workforce transformation, leadership development, organisational effectiveness and cultural change. Working alongside the Chief Fire Officer and Executive Leadership Team, you will help create a modern people service that enables our workforce to thrive and our communities to receive the very best service.

We welcome applications from outstanding leaders both within and beyond the fire sector. What matters most is your ability to operate strategically, build trust, lead through complexity, and deliver meaningful and lasting change in a highly visible public service environment.

If you are motivated by public service, inspired by transformation, and excited by the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for the people of South Wales, we would love to hear from you.

Dyma un o'r rolau arwain pobl pwysicaf yng Nghymru heddiw.

Mae Gwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru yn gwasanaethu mwy na 1.6 miliwn o bobl ar draws deg ardal awdurdod lleol. Rydym yn diogelu cymunedau, yn ymateb i argyfyngau ac yn gweithio bob dydd i leihau risg a gwella llesiant ledled De Cymru. Yn galon y genhadaeth hyn mae ein 1,700 o bobl dalentog.

Rydym yn chwilio am Gyfarwyddwr Pobl a Datblygu Sefydliadol eithriadol i ymuno â'n Tîm Arweinyddiaeth Weithredol ac i helpu i lunio pennod nesaf ein Gwasanaeth.

Mae hwn yn gyfle prin i arwain trawsnewidiad diwylliannol ar raddfa fawr. Yn dilyn adolygiad annibynnol ac archwiliad cenedlaethol, rydym yn gweithredu rhaglen newid uchelgeisiol i greu sefydliad rhagorol, cynhwysol sy'n cael ei arwain gan y werthoedd. Mae gennym weledigaeth glir ar gyfer y dyfodol ac rydym yn chwilio am arweinydd sydd â'r hygrededd, y gwydnwch a'r uchelgais i helpu i'w gwireddu.

Byddwch yn arwain ein swyddogaeth Pobl a Datblygu Sefydliadol, gan ysgogi trawsnewid y gweithlu, datblygu arweinyddiaeth, effeithiolrwydd sefydliadol a newid diwylliannol. Gan weithio ochr yn ochr â'r Prif Swyddog Tân a'r Tîm Arweinyddiaeth Weithredol, byddwch yn helpu i greu gwasanaeth pobl modern sy'n galluogi ein gweithlu i ffynnu a'n cymunedau i dderbyn y gwasanaeth gorau posibl.

Rydym yn croesawu ceisiadau gan arweinwyr rhagorol o fewn a thu hwnt i'r sector tân. Yr hyn sydd bwysicaf yw eich gallu i weithredu'n strategol, meithrin ymddiriedaeth, arwain trwy gymhlethdod, a chyflawni newid ystyrlon a pharhaol mewn amgylchedd gwasanaeth cyhoeddus gweladwy iawn.

Os ydych chi'n cael eich ysgogi gan wasanaeth cyhoeddus, eich ysbrydoli gan drawsnewid, a'ch cyffroi gan y cyfle i adael gwaddol parhaol ar gyfer pobl De Cymru, byddem wrth ein bodd i glywed oddi wrthych.

To view the Candidate Information Pack in both English and Welsh, please scroll to the bottom of the page, tick to agree to the privacy policy, then click 'Continue to full details'.

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date
12 noon, Monday 24th August 2026

Longlist Meeting
Tuesday 1st September 2026

Preliminary interviews with GatenbySanderson
From 2 - 7th September 2026

Shortlist Meeting
Thursday 10th September 2026

Online Psychometric Assessments
From Friday 11 September 2026

Stakeholder Engagement Panel
w/c 14 September 2026

Final Panel Interviews
w/c 21 Septembr 2026

How to Apply

We are seeking to make this appointment based on a combination of your written application and interview. During your online registration process, you will be asked to submit diversity monitoring information. This is very important and will be kept entirely separate from the application process.

Please submit the following:

• A tailored CV (maximum 2 pages), setting out your work history (paid or voluntary), responsibilities and achievements/performance as they relate to the role.
• A supporting document which covers all three selection questions below, in no more than 2000 words in total.

Q1) Provide evidence of your strategic leadership which has created a high performing People & OD/HR function.
Q2) Describe how you have influenced a range of stakeholders to drive sustained cultural transformation
Q3) Explain what success looks like for you in this role.

Video Submission:

To accompany your application, we would like you to record a short video (of no more than 2 minutes in length) answering the following question:

Please explain your motivation for applying for the role of Director of People and OD in the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The video is your opportunity to portray yourself beyond the formality of the written word. Please submit your video using the following link only: https://myint.video/aS047AbY2h

You will have the opportunity to practice recording a video and test your equipment using two practice questions. These recordings are not submitted and are for practice purposes only:

Why would you like to work for us?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Once you've completed the practice questions and feel confident, click "I'm ready, proceed to start." You will then move on to the actual question, where you can record 5 takes and submit the version you are most satisfied with.

If successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be asked to provide the following:

• The names and contact details of two referees. Please note that referees will only be contacted if you are selected for interview.
• Relevant identification (i.e. Passport/driving licence).

So if this has piqued your interest and you would like to explore the role and your fit with it in more detail, please contact our recruitment partners.

For an informal and confidential conversation, please reach out to our consultancy team at GatenbySanderson:

• Duncan Collins: 07586 705475 / duncan.collins@gatenbysanderson.com
• Peter Buffoni, 07964 877 654 / peter.buffoni@gatenbysanderson.com

Rydym yn bwriadu gwneud y penodiad hwn ar sail cyfuniad o'ch cais ysgrifenedig a chyfweliad. I wneud cais, ewch i wefan ein partner recriwtio yn www.gatenbysanderson.com neu defnyddiwch y swyddogaeth 'chwilio am swyddi' ar y wefan honno.

Yn ystod y broses gofrestru ar-lein, gofynnir i chi gyflwyno gwybodaeth monitro amrywiaeth. Mae hyn yn bwysig iawn a chaiff ei gadw ar wahân yn llwyr i'r broses ymgeisio.

Cofrestrwch ar www.gatenbysanderson.com a chyflwynwch y canlynol i ni erbyn hanner dydd ar y dyddiad cau fan bellaf.

• CV wedi'i deilwra (uchafswm o 2 dudalen), yn nodi eich hanes gwaith (â thâl neu wirfoddol), cyfrifoldebau a chyflawniadau/perfformiad fel y maent yn berthnasol i'r rôl.
• Dogfen ategol sy'n cwmpasu'r tri chwestiwn dethol isod, heb fod dim mwy na 2000 o eiriau i gyd.

C1) Darparwch dystiolaeth o'ch arweinyddiaeth strategol a arweiniodd at greu swyddogaeth Pobl a Datblygu Sefydliadol/Adnoddau Dynol sy'n perfformio'n uchel.
C2) Disgrifiwch sut rydych chi wedi dylanwadu ar ystod o randdeiliaid i ysgogi trawsnewidiad diwylliannol parhaus.
C3) Eglurwch sut byddai llwyddiant yn edrych i chi yn y rôl hon. Gofynnir i ymgeiswyr hefyd recordio fideo byr i gyflwyno eu hunain.

Video Submission:
I gyd-fynd â'ch cais, hoffem i chi recordio fideo byr (heb fod yn hirach na 2 funud) yn ateb y cwestiwn canlynol:

Esboniwch eich cymhelliant dros wneud cais am rôl Cyfarwyddwr Pobl a Datblygu Sefydliadol (OD) yng Ngwasanaeth Tân ac Achub De Cymru.

Mae'r fideo yn gyfle i chi gyflwyno eich hun y tu hwnt i ffurfioldeb y gair ysgrifenedig. Cyflwynwch eich fideo gan ddefnyddio'r ddolen ganlynol yn unig: https://myint.video/aBfjYQUzwl

Bydd gennych gyfle i ymarfer recordio fideo a phrofi eich offer gan ddefnyddio dau gwestiwn ymarfer. Ni fydd y recordiadau hyn yn cael eu cyflwyno ac maent at ddibenion ymarfer yn unig:
1. Pam hoffech chi weithio i ni?
2. Beth yw eich cryfderau a'ch gwendidau?

Unwaith y byddwch wedi cwblhau'r cwestiynau ymarfer ac yn teimlo'n hyderus, cliciwch "I'm ready, proceed to start." Yna byddwch yn symud ymlaen at y cwestiwn gwirioneddol, lle gallwch recordio 5 ymgais a chyflwyno'r fersiwn rydych chi fwyaf bodlon arni.

Ar gyfer sgwrs anffurfiol a chyfrinachol, cysylltwch â'n tîm ymgynghori yn GatenbySanderson:

Duncan Collins: 07586 705475, duncan.collins@gatenbysanderson.com
Peter Buffoni, 07964 877 654, peter.buffoni@gatenbysanderson.com