The role
We are seeking an individual to manage Natural Resources Wales’ data cataloguing and publishing tools, including the Discovery metadata catalogue and open data holdings on NBNAtlas and DataMapWales. This role is central to delivering our corporate objectives by making environmental and monitoring data openly available, supporting transparency, innovation, and better decision‑making across Wales.
The postholder will administer cataloguing systems, import and validate environmental data, and ensure quality and compliance with recognised standards such as Gemini, MEDIN, ISO 19115, and Darwin Core. Acting as a key point of contact for customers and system developers, the role also provides technical support and training to colleagues while keeping the business informed of updates.
Expertise in environmental and biological data, database administration, and tools such as FME and PowerBI is desirable, alongside an understanding of data sensitivity, licensing, and legal compliance. Enthusiasm for environmental data, strong attention to detail, and the ability to deliver accurate work to deadlines are essential.
This position offers the opportunity to develop skills in computer languages such as XML or SQL, while contributing to NRW’s commitment to the FAIR principles—ensuring our data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office nearest 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. We are based across Wales, so some travel is required to attend training or team events.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Monica Jones at Monica.Jones@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will be face to face on 11 February 2026 (details of time and location will be shared in advance)
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
We are small friendly helpful team who work in Knowledge Information Management within the Digital, Data and Technology department, we are passionate about data governance and put customer service at the heart of our service.
What you will do
- Support the system owner for NRW's suite of data cataloguing and data publishing tools (e.g. Information Asset Register, metadata base, external data publishing, open APIs and data download tools) by providing technical database/service administration and configuration; managing user permissions; working closely with colleagues in ICT, external contractors or partners on developments and upgrades.
- Import, export, transform, validate and quality assure NRW 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 from staff in the use of NRW's suite of data cataloguing, publishing and exchange tools.
- Advise and assist NRW data custodians, Information Asset Owners and subject matter experts to catalogue their assets, manage publishing and exchange and assess datasets against our open data criteria for publication or restricted/licensed exchange.
- Create data products that meet operational and external customer needs across a range of data themes, formats and standards.
- Support the team leader and data services specialists to deliver improvement projects and solutions by contributing to the specification, testing and service introduction of new solutions.
- Represent data services in relevant task and finish groups, networks and governance groups.
- Support and train new or temporary staff within the Data Services Team.
- 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, with an emphasis on environmental data 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, 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 with good attention to detail and ability to take ownership and complete tasks efficiently.
- Experience of providing users support 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
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.
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.
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