Conservation Stonemason (West Wales x2 – North Wales x1)

ID 3471

The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.

Vacancy details

Conservation Stonemason (West Wales x2 – North Wales x1) 

05/03/2026, 16:00 

Permanent
£30,754
EO £30,754 to £34,997
RRA Pensionable
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Education, Culture and Welsh Language
Cadw
Properties in Care
North Wales, South West Wales
Other
St Clears depot & Caernarfon depot

Cadw is the Welsh Government’s historic environment service - working for an accessible and well-protected historic environment for Wales.

We conserve Wales’s heritage to the best possible standard and help to sustain the distinctive character of Wales’s landscapes and towns. We are responsible for some of the most significant sites in the world, and we help people understand and care about their place and history – and the place of Wales in the world.

Our in-house conversation teams carry out statutory responsibilities for the conservation and maintenance of the monuments in our care. Primary functions are to undertake joinery/carpentry conservation works, cyclical and reactive maintenance and presentation works at Cadw’s sites within a geographical area.

  • Carrying out consolidation and reworking of wall tops, face work and open fragmented wall core.
  • Working safely at all times and at considerable heights from properly constructed scaffolding when required.
  • Recording, annotating and undertaking careful sequenced dismantling of fragile and unstable historic masonry, and carefully and accurately rebuilding and stabilising sections of masonry authentically from drawings, photographs and records.
  • Fixing on site special and bespoke dressed masonry (prepared elsewhere).
  • Undertaking specialist conservation techniques such as pinning, grouting, plastic mortar repairs, anchoring, shelter coating, graffiti removal, rendering etc.
  • Undertaking miscellaneous building works associated with the maintenance and preservation of historic monuments and sites which are open to visitors, including winter maintenance and site presentation improvement work of a non-masonry nature.
  • Assisting with manual labouring duties including mortar removal, movement of materials, mortar mixing, weather protection, etc.
  • Preparing, agreeing and maintaining, with your line manager, a Performance Management, Training and Development Plan. You will undertake all mandatory training and seek out further internal and external training and development opportunities deemed applicable.
  • Ensuring all Welsh Government vehicles, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), plant, access equipment and tools are compliant, safe and well maintained.
  • Ensuring all Welsh Government vehicles, plant and equipment is left safe and secure at all times.
  • Driving and being responsible for works vehicles as and when required.
  • Ensuring that works welfare facilities are clean, hygienic, safe, tidy and compliant. Reporting risks and issues promptly and responsibly.
  • In conjunction with the Works Supervisor and Conservation Works and Property Manager you will have input into the scope and extent of work packages, appropriate conservation and intervention methods, material selection, access requirements, programme, etc. You will assist in the development of Method Statements and Risk Assessments, undertake toolbox talks in rotation with colleagues and develop specific Risk Assessments to works required.
  • Assisting in developing forward works programmes by identifying future potential works.
  • Contributing to the promotion of public understanding of Cadw’s work by showcasing our work to visitors, attending and representing Cadw at external events, work demonstrations, media opportunities etc.
  • Operating IT equipment with a basic level of skill and understanding.
  • Any other duties commensurate with the grade as directed by the line manager.
Internal and external training and development opportunities will be encouraged as part of a structured training and development plan. You will be encouraged and supported to undertake Continuing Professional Development. As part of a small specialist team, there is a career path and potential future opportunities to further a career.

Posts Available

Candidates are asked to provide their preferred location.

  • 2 x Conservation Stonemason – West Wales
  • 1 x Conservation Stonemason – North Wales

Assessment Stage and Process

Stage 1 (Sift):

Candidates must provide:

  • Up-to-date curriculum vitae. Note education and professional qualifications, any memberships of institutes, current and previous employers, training, experience etc. including any employment gaps.
  • Confirmation of qualification / training / experience
  • A 750 word statement of your suitability for this role with evidence of the experience criteria 1 and 2.

Stage 2 (Interview)

  • Candidates who successfully meet the minimum criteria at Stage 1 will be invited to an interview which will consist of questions testing their behaviour, experience and technical skills.

Location

North Wales

The North Wales Cadwraeth region covers the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech castles, along with chapels, burial chambers, abbeys, medieval houses, and Roman settlements. Travel across the region will be required in order to carry out day-to-day business. You will start your day at the Caernarfon depot and then travel to various sites using a company works van.

West Wales

The West Wales Cadwraeth region covers castles, Bishops’ Palaces, priories, abbeys and neolithic tombs – such a St Davids Bishop’s Palace, Laugharne and Kidwelly Castles. Travel across the region will be required in order to carry out day-to-day business. You will start your day at the St Clears depot and then travel to various sites using a company works van.

Travel to other WG offices, other monument sites and for meetings within Wales will also be required from time to time.

Requirements

Experience of conserving or rebuilding stone or brick walls and other conservation techniques (e.g., graffiti removal, stone pinning, lime washing, using lime mortars, grouting, rendering, vegetation removal)

Good overall practical and working knowledge of building construction, including an awareness and a good understanding of current construction Health and Safety issues and construction site safety.

A full driving licence is required for this role.

If you are successful at interview, you will be required to provide health information as part of pre-employment checks to demonstrate you are currently able to meet the demands of the role.

Allowances

  • £2000 Recruitment and Retention allowance per annum. This is not negotiable.
  • Tool Allowance – under review

Other information

A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.

Basic
3
cadw.hr@gov.wales

Welsh language requirements

3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
0 - No skills
0 - No skills
0 - No skills
0 - No skills

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our AI candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection Process and Stages

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:2 stage process
Stage 1Application Form
Stage 2Interview

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these Behaviour criteria during the selection process.

Working Together

Contribute to an inclusive working environment where all opinions and challenges are listened to and all individual needs are taken into account.
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Managing a Quality Service 

Identify common problems that affect service report them and find solutions.
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Experience

We'll assess you against the following Experience criteria during the assessment process.
CV, Experience questions

Experience of conserving or rebuilding stone or brick walls and other conservation techniques (e.g., graffiti removal, stone pinning, lime washing, using lime mortars, grouting, rendering, vegetation removal).

This will be tested at Stage 1: Application Form
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

2) Good overall practical and working knowledge of building construction, including an awareness and a good understanding of current construction Health and Safety issues and construction site safety.

This will be tested at stage 1: Application Form
This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Candidate to provide their preferred location.

This will be tested at stage 1: Application Form

Technical

We'll assess the following Technical skills during the selection process.

Good practical understanding and application of stonemasonry techniques.

This will be tested at stage 2: Interview

Eligibility

You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:
• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Social Model of Disability

Welsh Government has adopted the social model of disability, which recognises that barriers in society act to disable people who have impairments, or health conditions, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language.

We are committed to removing barriers in the recruitment process so that all (or potential new) staff can perform at their best.

Recruitment adjustments can be made at any part of the recruitment process for candidates with an impairment or health condition, who are neurodivergent or who use British Sign Language. 

Please get in touch with DiversityInRecruitment@gov.wales to discuss adjustments for any part of the process.

Inclusive Interview Schemes

We are committed to inclusive recruitment and offer interviews to eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the role through the following schemes:

Disability Confident

The Welsh Government is a Disability Confident Leader. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any candidate with an impairment, health condition, who is neurodivergent or who uses British Sign Language if they meet the minimum criteria for the post.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The Welsh Government operates the Great Place to Work for Veterans Initiative. As part of our commitment to this scheme we interview any eligible candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the post.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service employers can offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of civil servants who are at risk of redundancy and who meet the minimum criteria for the post
By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that candidates must provide us with evidence in their application (and/or test) that they meet the minimum level of competence for the role - usually defined as a minimum score of 4 per criterion.

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
• PCS
• Prospect
• FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
• Pay
• Terms and conditions
• HR Strategy, policies and procedures
• Health, safety and well-being
• Organisational change

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. We encourage you to learn more about our trade unions, partnership working and to get involved in their work.

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

  • Civil Service Pension Scheme
  • 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
  • training and development opportunities
  • Cycle2Work Scheme
  • Smart Working flexible working arrangement
  • Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Recruitment principles and complaints

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales. Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.

All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.

Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.

If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team.You can:

  • request an application pack in an alternative format
  • request a recruitment adjustment to help you submit your application

Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.

You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application.  Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there. 

Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.

If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page.  We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.

Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.

For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here.

For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.

This opportunity is closed to applications.