The role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated individual to join our South Wales Central People and Places Team as a Senior Officer. This role will lead the development and delivery of a catchment approach, including establishing a catchment partnership. The role will work collaboratively to develop an integrated approach to improving bathing waters in Ogmore by Sea and Watch house Bay through improving water quality throughout the catchment whilst maximising multiple benefits.
You will work closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver on-the-ground improvements, shape strategic direction, gather and coordinate evidence to address some of the most significant environmental challenges in South Central Wales.
This is a rewarding opportunity for a collaborative and results-driven professional with strong communication skills and a passion for the environment.
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 Andrew Robinson at andrew.robinson@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will be conducted via 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 South Wales Central People and Places Team sits within the South Wales Central Operations Area. The team leads on strategic planning and partnership working—both internally within NRW and externally with stakeholders—aimed at addressing the key environmental challenges facing our diverse communities.
We focus on delivering integrated, place-based solutions that support resilient landscapes, reduce pollution and flood risk, and promote access to clean air, clean water, and green spaces. Our work ensures that the natural environment is valued, embedded in decision-making, and supported through inclusive, equitable partnerships.
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 Ogmore 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.
- Stay informed of new and emerging evidence, technologies, and approaches relevant to catchment management, and evaluate their applicability to local contexts.
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.
- Detailed knowledge of catchment management and nature based solution interventions.
- Knowledge of bathing water regulations, water quality and monitoring and evaluation and a thorough understanding of interrelationships between agriculture, land management, water management and people.
- A degree or relevant experience in an environmental science, geographical, earth science or an appropriate discipline
- Understanding of current agri-environment schemes and proposed changes, including the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
- Strong understanding of UK and European environmental legislation, government policy frameworks, and best practices relating to water quality, bathing waters regulation and land management, with the ability to communicate findings effectively through high-quality reports.
- Ability to apply and adapt knowledge, to deliver appropriate interventions on the ground.
- Experience in project and budget management.
- Excellent team working and communication skills and the ability to represent the project to a variety of audiences including external stakeholders.
- Proven experience engaging, influencing, and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including statutory bodies, NGOs, landowners, and communities, with the ability to manage competing interests and group dynamics.
- Experience of supervising, coaching and/or mentoring contractors.
- Experience in the use of MS Office software.
- The ability and a full licence to drive a car legally in the UK.
Welsh Language Level requirements:
- Essential: A1 – Entry level
Welsh language levels
Please note if you do not meet the level 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.
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.
#ENV, GRJ
