The role
Are you passionate about using data to make a real difference for nature in Wales? In this role, you’ll support Natural Resources Wales (NRW) biodiversity and environmental monitoring specialists, along with our partners, to manage and make the most of vital data about Wales’ environment.
You’ll work closely with our monitoring and data experts and hands-on field teams to shape how environmental data is used to protect and enhance our natural landscapes. Your contribution will be central to delivering the Welsh Government’s Biodiversity Deep Dive recommendations and supporting Wales in meeting ambitious targets under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
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.
This role is fixed term until 31 December 2026.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Sue Byrne sue.byrne@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
The post is part of a national team covering terrestrial, freshwater and marine monitoring. We develop plans and strategies for NRWs monitoring work to ensure that we make effective use of our monitoring resources to provide the evidence needed to tackle pollution and address the nature and climate emergencies. As a team, we value collaboration, innovation and integrity. We offer a supportive and inclusive working culture where your contributions are recognised and your professional growth is encouraged. Joining us means being part of a passionate community committed to making a real difference in the way Wales understands and responds to environmental challenges.
What you will do
- Support the development of NRW's monitoring data tools (e.g. interim solutions for storing and extracting condition assessment related information as an alternative to the paused Protected Sites Management System – Evidence and Monitoring Module). Support NRW’s terrestrial monitoring strategy, by providing technical database/service administration and configuration; managing user permissions; working closely with colleagues in ICT, EPP, Operations, external contractors or partners on developments and upgrades.
- Import, export, transform, validate and quality assure data following NRW/industry standards. This will be across a variety of data themes, data formats and from a range of IT applications.
- Provide technical support, training and draft guidance for NRW staff, contractors and external customers; dealing with complex technical support queries in the use of NRW's monitoring data tools.
- Advise and assist NRW data custodians, Information Asset Owners and subject matter experts to manage publishing and exchange and assess datasets against our open data criteria for publication or restricted/licensed exchange.
- Create data products that meet reporting, operational and external customer needs across a range of data themes and formats.
- Support the team leader and monitoring specialists to deliver improvement projects and solutions by contributing to the specification, testing and service introduction of new solutions (e.g., planning, reporting and tracking of marine, freshwater and terrestrial monitoring programmes).
- Represent monitoring data services in relevant task and finish groups, networks and governance groups.
- 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.
- Excellent data management skills and experience in managing data in a business context E.g. collating, warehousing, publishing, managing, transforming, manipulating, interrogating, archiving, extracting, analysing and using data; including experience in using enterprise cataloguing, publishing or transformation tools.
- Experience of database administration of either a corporate database, a data warehouse, data catalogue, data integration tools, data interrogation or publishing tools.
- An understanding of external policies and legislation that govern the way that we share and publish our data, data sensitivities and experience of managing sensitive and confidential information.
- Degree in a relevant subject or a good grounding in data management, natural, environmental or computer science.
- Experience of providing users support and written guidance in a data or IT environment. An understanding of the ITIL framework or similar governance framework for application development and user support is desirable
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.
Unless otherwise stated in the ‘Role’ section of this advert, Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.
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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