The role
We are looking for a motivated and forward‑thinking specialist to lead Natural Resources Wales’ work on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS). This is a high‑profile, cross‑cutting role at the heart of our evolving industrial decarbonisation and regulatory strategy.
You will act as NRW’s primary source of technical expertise on UK ETS and ESOS, helping to shape how Wales responds to the challenges and opportunities of a low‑carbon industrial future. Working across multiple sectors and regulatory regimes, you will interpret complex legislation, develop internal guidance, and support colleagues to deliver consistent, risk‑based regulation.
A key part of this role is influencing the wider UK landscape. You will represent NRW in UK‑wide policy groups and technical forums, working with the UK ETS Authority, UK regulators, government departments and verification/accreditation bodies. You will use evidence and expert judgement to help shape future phases of UK ETS, strengthen ESOS compliance, and ensure Welsh perspectives are understood at national level.
Internally, you will play a central role in delivering our Regulatory Strategy (Industry), ensuring that carbon pricing, energy efficiency and industrial emissions reduction are fully embedded in our regulatory thinking. You will provide authoritative advice to permitting and compliance teams, develop tools and guidance, and support capability building across the organisation.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong knowledge of industrial carbon accounting, energy efficiency, emissions reporting or environmental regulation who wants to make a real impact on Wales’ net zero transition. If you enjoy working across systems, influencing policy, and turning complex information into clear direction for others, we’d love to hear from you.
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 Jeremy Walters at jeremy.walters@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams week commencing 27/04/2026.
Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check and National Security Vetting (at Security Check Level). Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.
This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.
Please note that while we may be able to support the Certificate of Sponsorship required for a visa application, the organisation does not cover the cost of the visa itself, including any associated fees for dependants.
The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
What you will do
- Support the NRW Policy Lead with in their discussions with environmental regulators, both UK and European and Government Organisations by developing evidence to support these discussions on the development of operational policy and new legislation, interpretation of relevant legislation, advice and guidance for the Industry sectors.
- 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 of staff across NRW by applying technical, legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience.
- Contribute to the delivery of the team’s business plan, the directorate delivery plan and NRWs corporate plan.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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.