The role
This is a unique opportunity to lead the way in creating a resilient Wales’s by transitioning to net zero and restoring nature. As the Lead Specialist for Biodiversity and Industrial Decarbonisation Implementation, you will shape how major infrastructure and decarbonisation projects can be developed to tackle the joint nature and climate emergencies. The role exists to develop innovative, risk-based approaches that protects our most valuable natural sites and species whilst facilitating urgent climate action.
Working flexibly as part of the Biodiversity and Policy Strategy Team, you will have no formal line management responsibilities but will influence staff across multiple functions and disciplines. Your focus will be on streamlining assessments, developing new governance and decision-making frameworks, and helping NRW shift to strategic, solutions-focused thinking.
You will report to the Team Leader and operate across teams and directorates, playing a critical role in NRW’s support for Wales’s resilient low carbon future.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Neil Parker neil.parker@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams
About us
Natural Resources Wales is the principal environmental regulator and adviser to the Welsh Government. We are responsible for the sustainable management of Wales’s natural resources, guided by the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and our corporate strategy Nature and People Thriving Together. Our three well-being objectives are:
- Nature is recovering
- Communities are resilient to climate change
- Pollution is minimised
This role sits within the Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate, which leads on translating environmental evidence and government policy into operational practice. Within this, the Natural Resources Management Policy Department provides strategic direction on the sustainable land, freshwater and marine development supporting cross-sectoral priorities like industrial decarbonisation.
The team is focused on ensuring that environmental protection and climate action go hand in hand. A key priority is to continue the development how NRW delivers its responsibilities under the Habitats Regulations and the Water Framework Directive where new, novel, innovative and potentially repercussive technologies are proposed to facilitate large-scale low carbon infrastructure implementation.
This role is central to that goal. You will lead development of risk-based decision frameworks, advise on legal and procedural changes, and support collaboration across NRW’s functions to deliver rapid, robust and proportionate regulation in the face of the join nature and climate emergencies.
What you will do
- Lead and project manage specific and complex issues that require development and management of NRW approaches to casework, as well NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes.
- Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, advice and guidance documents. Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
- Provide statutory advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies.
- Advise on evidence gaps, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of environmental assessments and in particular Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Water Framework Directive (WFD) identifying the implications of policy, legislative, technology and market changes for Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and the Marine sector.
- Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
- Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to environmental assessment derogations.
- Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development Plan.
- Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post
- Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post
- Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills
In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.
- Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to environmental assessment and in particular HRA, WFD, Welsh & UK Governments & EU policy drivers in Infrastructure Consenting and Town and Country Planning; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders involved with decarbonising industry in Wales and the UK.
- In-depth understanding of WFD and HRA assessment processes and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
- Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and qualifications.
- You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
- Representing organisations in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
- Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.
- Be able to work at pace and have a track record of delivery.
Welsh Language Level requirements:
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)
Welsh language levels
Please note if you do not meet the level A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.
Benefits
This role will offer a range of benefits, including:
- Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)
- 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
- generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
- commitment to professional development
- health and wellbeing benefits and support
- weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose
See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.
Please keep reading
We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
We are committed to equal opportunities and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.
We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.
We are a bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.
You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time.
