The role
This role is a fixed-term appointment until 12/10/2026.
We invite applications from experienced and motivated professionals to join our team as a Senior Officer supporting the Programme Manager for the Taff Catchment. This role will support the development and delivery of a whole catchment approach, including establishing a catchment partnership. The role will work collaboratively to develop an integrated approach to reducing and managing flood risk in a way which builds both environmental and community resilience, whilst maximising multiple benefits.
The Taff Catchment’s communities and landscapes are vulnerable to repeated river and surface water flooding. With the anticipated impacts of climate change, flood risk throughout the catchment will worsen as large storms become more frequent and intense. With this in mind, we are developing a long-term Strategic Flood Risk Management Plan for the Taff catchment to manage the negative impacts of flooding on people, property, infrastructure and the environment.
The successful candidate will have a proven track record of driving transformative change through partnership working. You will be responsible for fostering collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, translating strategic objectives into practical solutions, and enhancing resilience in the catchment’s water environment.
Strong communication skills, credibility with diverse stakeholders, and the ability to convert expertise into effective action are essential, alongside technical knowledge and experience in flood risk management This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to sustainable natural resource management and flood risk mitigation in South Central Wales.
You will work closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver on-the-ground improvements, shape strategic direction, gather and coordinate evidence to and address some of the most significant environmental challenges in South Central Wales.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location 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 Becky Davies at becky.davies@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
South Wales Central is one of seven operational areas within Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Though the smallest in land area, it serves the largest population—home to around one-third of Wales’ residents. This makes our work both dynamic and deeply impactful, as we help protect and enhance the natural environment in some of the country’s most vibrant and diverse communities.
Delivering excellent service is at the heart of everything we do, so if you’re passionate about making a difference where it matters most, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the sustainable future of Wales.
What you will do
- Lead and coordinate the provision of specialist technical advice and guidance, drawing on expertise from within NRW and external sources to ensure all decisions are based on sound technical judgment, aligned with current legislation, best practice, and robust evidence.
- Collaborate with internal NRW teams across South Central, including the Place Team and People & Places Team, as well as external stakeholders such as Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, local authorities, community councils, and environmental partners like the South East Wales Rivers Trust. Use a variety of engagement methods to enhance understanding of integrated catchment management and foster collaboration in the development and delivery of water quality interventions and broader sustainable outcomes.
- Work as part of a virtual project team to design and implement a detailed programme of sustainable, integrated, and strategic actions—both at policy and practical levels—to improve downstream bathing waters in the Taff Catchment. Support partner organisations in promoting habitat conservation and the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR).
- Manage multiple project workstreams and contracts, including those focused on evidence gathering, monitoring, and stakeholder engagement. Ensure effective coordination, procurement compliance, and delivery of project outputs to agreed timelines and standards. Maintain detailed records of progress, deliver monthly and milestone reports, and ensure good project governance, including adherence to NRW’s wellbeing, health and safety policies.
- Analyse and apply complex environmental data to inform the design of catchment interventions, establish baselines, and quantify the benefits of actions taken. Collate and interpret monitoring data to assess effectiveness and communicate findings through written reports and presentations to both internal teams and external audiences.
- Attend and contribute to regular project team meetings, including the South Wales Catchment Restoration project group, and support the Project Manager and Executive in presenting at board and steering group meetings. Represent the project at public events, stakeholder meetings, and national forums, sharing lessons learned and promoting best practice in water quality and catchment restoration.
- Provide ongoing technical development and coaching to colleagues, including supervision and mentoring of Officer 2 posts. Contribute to team capability by leading on new procedures and sharing specialist knowledge.
- Together with other project members, ensure delivery of agreed objectives, tracking progress against milestones, and reporting outcomes. Maintain responsibility for budgets within your area of the project, managing supplier relationships and ensuring value for money and alignment with spending profiles.
- 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).
- Required to take part in incident response activities
- 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.
- A degree or relevant experience in an environmental science, geographical, earth science or an appropriate discipline
- Comprehensive knowledge of environmental science, including catchment management, nature-based solutions, physical and human geography, hydrology including a thorough understanding of interrelationships between land management, water management and people.
- Comprehensive knowledge of UK/EU environmental legislation and policy frameworks, including water regulation and quality (including Bathing Waters), and agri-environment schemes (e.g. Sustainable Farming Scheme).
- Ability to apply and adapt knowledge, to deliver appropriate interventions on the ground. Including experience in project and budget management.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience engaging and influencing diverse stakeholders (e.g. statutory bodies, NGOs, landowners, communities), managing group dynamics, and supervising or mentoring contractors.
- The ability and a full licence to drive a car legally in the UK.
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.