The role
Are you passionate about environmental protection and keen to influence how Wales manages its waste and resources? In this dynamic position, you will work closely with Welsh and UK government departments and environmental regulators to develop and implement waste policy. This role offers a unique opportunity to build expertise across diverse areas of waste policy, with particular value placed on experience in hazardous waste legislation, waste classification, and/or International Waste Shipment regulations.
We seek a proactive professional with a strong grasp of environmental regulation, excellent communication skills, and the ability to interpret complex legislation and data. You may also be required to work on other waste policy areas outside your specific area of expertise, depending on work priorities. If you’re ready to drive positive change and collaborate at a national level, this role could be the perfect fit.
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 Louise Peel louise.peel@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk
Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams 01/10/2025
About us
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the lead environmental body for Wales, working to protect and enhance our natural resources now and for the future. Our Waste Policy Team plays a key role in shaping evidence-based strategy and providing expert advice to external stakeholders and across all areas of NRW’s work.
We support the Welsh Government’s Beyond Recycling and Towards Zero Waste strategies, promoting a circular economy by reducing waste, encouraging reuse and recovery, and ensuring sustainable end uses for materials.
By joining us, you’ll be part of a dedicated team driving real environmental change and helping deliver Wales’ ambitious sustainability goals.
What you will do
- Be the principle point of contact with the relevant UK and Welsh Trade Associations, Government Departments and environmental regulators, both UK and European, to share information and work together on the development of operational policy and new legislation, interpretation of relevant legislation, advice and guidance for the specific sector(s) and areas of responsibility.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
- Support the development and training of staff across NRW by applying technical, legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience.
- Lead and project manage specific and complex issues to enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff that enables effective regulatory service provision.
- Contribute to the delivery of the team’s business plan, the directorate delivery plan and NRWs corporate plan.
- Support the mentoring and coaching of Advisors within the team to ensure that the team has sufficient technical and legislative resilience for your assigned area of work.
- Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
- Design monitoring and evaluation frameworks of regulation interventions to inform assessment of the need for improvements in regulation and permitting processes by NRW.
- 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.
- Required to take part in incident response activities.
Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills
Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following criteria both at shortlisting and interview. In your job application please demonstrate, using the STAR method, how you meet the requirements outlined below.
- Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to your specific sector(s) Welsh, UK government Policy drivers in your specific sector(s).
- Experience in informing and influencing government departments/regulators, preferably on environmental issues.
- Extensive experience in forming and maintaining close links with internal and external partners/stakeholders to deliver the outcomes of both a specific function/project/team and the wider organisation.
- Experience of understanding and applying regulatory activities, in line with our regulatory principles.
- Be able to work at pace and have a track record of delivery.
- Being innovative and demonstrating drive to achieve targets.
- You will be expected to keep up to date with changing regulatory policy and proposed changes to legislation via membership of a relevant professional body or other equivalent means.
Welsh Language Level requirements:
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level
Please note if you do not meet the level 1 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.
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.
