The role
As Lead Telemetry Specialist, you will provide technical leadership for the delivery and continuous improvement of NRW’s telemetry services. These services underpin NRW’s ability to deliver critical flood risk management, incident response, and water resource management services.
You will act as NRW’s senior technical authority for telemetry systems, with end‑to‑end responsibility for platform operation, configuration, resilience, and assurance. This includes ensuring that telemetry services meet required standards for data quality, security, digital compliance, and IT governance, and that risks are actively identified and managed.
Working closely with internal teams and external suppliers, you will ensure NRW’s telemetry provision remains robust, reliable, and technically fit for purpose. Your expertise will directly support evidence‑based decision‑making, enabling effective routine operations and providing trusted data and system performance during incident and emergency response.
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 Alison Hanson at Alison.Hanson@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place on w/c 1 June 2026 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.
What you will do
- Maintain and optimise the telemetry system to collect, archive and provide timely data to NRW staff, external partners and business systems.
- Develop the telemetry system and connected services to meet current and future requirements of NRW, taking advantage of changes in technology and developing innovative approaches to improve services.
- Develop policies, standards and guidance for telemetry in Wales.
- Develop appropriate procedures, standards, guidance and training to support the maintenance and management of the telemetry system and connected services.
- Provide technical advice to the business in matters related to telemetry and act as the principal expert for the configuration and development of NRW’s telemetry software platform.
- Engage with NRW staff, managers and external stakeholders to work collaboratively, understand needs, maximise benefits, deliver efficiencies and ensure the risks to NRW’s telemetry system are minimised.
- Ensure that the needs of telemetry users are understood, and appropriate enhancement backlogs, consultation and review processes are used to capture these.
- Lead the introduction of new techniques, technologies and best practice to operational systems and working practices, supporting convergence of integrated, efficient and effective solutions supporting sustainable environmental outcomes.
- Develop and implement specialised system components and complex configurations.
- Develop projects and manage programmes to evaluate and improve the telemetry system and services provided, adopting new technologies and innovative solutions where appropriate.
- Act as the primary technical expert for the telemetry system vendor. Ensure planned system developments, enhancements, and lifecycle upgrades are effectively coordinated and delivered.
- Act as a coach and mentor to hydrometry & telemetry staff, and provide technical advice and guidance to staff for management and operation of the telemetry system and associated technologies.
- Contribute to the delivery of an incident management service by undertaking the role of the Telemetry Duty Officer.
- 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.
- Proven track record in the use, configuration, and optimisation of wide-area telemetry and SCADA systems, ideally deployed within cloud-based environments using IP communications and networks. Previous experience of Inductive Automation’s “Ignition” platform would be desirable.
- Skilled in the use of programming and data analytics tools such as Python, SQL and Power BI within a telemetry / SCADA environment to manipulate, interrogate and visualise configurations and datasets, delivering high quality insights that support operational and strategic decisions.
- In-depth knowledge of telemetry instrumentation, measurement systems, and associated standards, including installation, calibration, and fault diagnosis.
- Experience of establishing and maintaining productive relationships with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders to influence outcomes and foster cooperation.
- Ability to remain composed and effective in high-pressure or time-critical situations, with a proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
- Budget and project management skills and experience suitable for managing, or making a significant contribution to delivery projects including the use of specialist contractors.
- Ability to work independently, demonstrating innovation, initiative and an ability to develop, or be receptive to, new ideas and creative solutions.
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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