The role
This is an exciting opportunity to gain hands-on experience across the full reservoir lifecycle while supporting the regulation of reservoir safety throughout Wales.
As a Graduate Reservoir Regulation Officer, you will be involved in a wide range of activities, including reservoir registration, risk designation, engineer appointments, safety and maintenance oversight, and reservoir decommissioning. You will support the team through data management, analysis and reporting, helping to assess compliance levels and identify trends that inform regulatory decisions.
You will also assist with enforcement activities and have opportunities to work alongside experienced professionals, including accompanying qualified civil engineers on reservoir site visits. This will provide valuable insight into reservoir inspections, safety practices and regulatory processes, while helping you develop the skills and knowledge required to progress towards becoming a Reservoir Keeper.
We are committed to supporting your professional development. You will be encouraged to take part in awareness sessions and collaborative opportunities across NRW, giving you a broader understanding of the organisation’s work and helping you build a diverse range of professional skills.
This role would suit a motivated graduate who is eager to learn and make a difference. Whether you are interested in developing a career in reservoir engineering and infrastructure management, or you have strong analytical skills and an interest in using data to identify emerging patterns and trends, this role offers a unique and rewarding foundation for your future career.
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 Phil Morgan at Phillip.Morgan@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.
About us
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is responsible for enforcing reservoir safety regulations under the Reservoirs Act 1975. We help ensure that large raised reservoirs across Wales are registered, monitored and maintained appropriately to reduce flood risk and protect communities, infrastructure and the environment.
The Reservoir Regulation Team sits within NRW’s National Operations Directorate and works closely with colleagues across operational, technical and policy teams. Together, we play a vital role in regulating reservoir safety and supporting reservoir owners to meet their legal responsibilities.
At NRW, we are committed to helping our people learn, grow and make a meaningful difference. Through collaboration, knowledge-sharing and development opportunities, we provide an environment where graduates can build valuable skills while contributing to work that has a direct impact on public safety and environmental resilience.
What you will do
- Support regulatory activities and assist in ensuring compliance through reviewing progress in statutory reservoir inspections and associated maintenance and remedial work.
- Participate in site visits to review progress and provide advice and guidance where required.
- Assist Supervising Engineers in undertaking inspections at NRW’s own reservoirs.
- Assist reservoir keepers to maintain risks at an acceptably low level at designated reservoirs.
- Maintain the dedicated reservoir management database.
- Other work as directed by the line manager.
- Manage health and safety issues on a day-to-day basis and contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture.
- 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.
- A graduate qualification in an engineering or an environmental and sustainability related discipline from a higher education institution.
- Good written and verbal skills and the ability to communicate confidently, with excellent customer service skills.
- Good inter-personal skills with the ability to work under pressure using your own initiative in order to meet tight deadlines.
- Strong ICT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Desirable: Full UK driving licence
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.
Additional Information
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.
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.