The role
Are you ready to shape the future of environmental regulation in Wales?
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to help shape how regulation evolves in Wales. As part of NRW’s Future Regulation team, you’ll be at the forefront of legislative and regulatory change, influencing Welsh and UK Government agendas, translating policy into practice, and helping NRW deliver smarter, more effective regulation that's fit for the future.
You’ll work across a wide range of current and emerging regulatory areas, bringing fresh thinking and strategic insight to some of the most important environmental challenges of our time. You’ll lead innovative projects that test new approaches to compliance, develop evidence strategies, and embed our Regulatory Principles across the organisation. You’ll provide expert advice to senior leaders and government officials, collaborate with internal teams and external partners across the UK and internationally, and act as a catalyst for change, with the overarching aim of helping us improve regulatory outcomes for our customers, stakeholders, and for the benefit of people and nature.
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. The successful candidate will be expected to attend regular meetings in Cardiff. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Martyn Evans at Martyn.Evans@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams
Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.
About us
You’ll be part of a diverse and experienced Future Regulation team within NRW's Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate. Working to the Future Regulation Team Leader, you'll help to drive real change for Wales’ natural environment. You’ll work on high-impact projects, influence national policy, and help shape the future of regulation in a way that supports nature’s recovery, tackles climate change, and minimises pollution.
We offer flexible working, career development opportunities, and the chance to be part of a supportive, purpose-driven team and organisation.
What you will do
- Be responsible for developing NRW advice to WG and UK Governments on Future Regulation, strategic regulatory developments, ensuring it is fit to deliver SMNR.
- Be responsible for analysing regulatory data and interpreting evidence to effectively underpin the development of future regulation and subsequently develop and test policy options based on that evidence.
- Have strong communication and organisational skills, as delivery of this work will require working closely with other UK and European environmental regulators to share knowledge and technical understanding.
- Develop, review and improve technical documentation, to enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff in the business that enables effective service provision.
- Lead innovative projects that test new regulatory approaches, develop NRW’s evidence and embed NRW’s Regulatory Principles across the organisation.
- Establish and maintain working relationships with Welsh Government officials so that we enhance our position as a trusted advisor and are able to influence government policy and future legislation.
- Contribute to the delivery of the team’s business plan, the directorate delivery plan and NRWs corporate plan.
- Specifically lead on 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.
- 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.
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Sound experience of managing successful programmes, achieved through substantial work experience in a related field.
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Adept at working at pace and displays a track record of delivery, demonstrating drive, innovation and initiative to achieve desired outcomes.
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Broad knowledge of Welsh and UK legislation and policy relevant to NRW’s regulatory functions. Proficient at keeping up to date with changing policy and proposed changes to legislation.
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Experience in informing and influencing senior leaders and government officials.
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Extensive experience in forming and maintaining close links with internal teams, and collaborating with external partners across Wales, the UK and internationally.
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A track record of Continuous Improvement, user-centred design or other innovative outcomes for a specific function, team or organisation.
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Experience of understanding and applying regulatory principles.
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You will have a recognised professional/technical qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
Welsh Language level requirements
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level
Welsh language levels
Please note if you do not meet the 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.
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