The role
Are you passionate about driving the shift to low-carbon energy while safeguarding the environment for future generations? As a Lead Specialist within the commercial arm of Natural Resources Wales (NRW), you will be at the forefront of delivering innovative energy projects that make a real difference.
In this pivotal role, you'll provide expert guidance on complex commercial energy developments across the NRW Managed Estate—bringing deep insight into environmental, recreational, and heritage considerations. Your input will help shape projects that don't just meet commercial goals, but actively enhance biodiversity and deliver lasting benefits for nature and communities.
Working as part of our dynamic Commercial Development Team, you’ll collaborate with colleagues across forestry, land management, and other specialist areas, as well as directly with external developers and project partners. You’ll act as a key advisor and influencer, ensuring every stage of project development is grounded in the principles of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR).
This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in Wales’ journey to net zero—helping deliver impactful renewable energy and infrastructure projects on public land, the right way.
If you’re ready to combine your commercial and environmental expertise to support a greener, more sustainable Wales, 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 James Laing at james.laing@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place 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
You’ll be a member of our 15 strong, dynamic Commercial Development Team within the Communications, Customer and Commercial Directorate. You’ll be collaborating with colleagues across forestry, land management, and other specialist areas, as well as directly with external developers and project partners, helping to deliver NRW’s Corporate Plan climate change objectives by enabling renewable energy projects across the NRW Managed Estate
What you will do
- Lead and ensure consistent approach to delivering complex issues such as SMNR that require strategies, plans, programmes and toolkits for successful delivery.
- Lead on reviewing, analysing and interpreting complex information and provide timely advice on ERH issues supported by relevant written reports.
- Lead on ensuring Peat, Habitat Management and Access Management Plan work programmes are managed providing consistency in approach and delivered minimising risk to NRW and potential legacy outcomes
- Provide ERH advice to Developers in Wales as appropriate ensuring that statutory consultee is informed and understands the reasoning behind advice and planning conditions placed on Developers are completed to an acceptable standard to protect the Minister’s interest
- Undertake research and provide advice for colleagues to act upon energy project Environmental Statements ensuring ERH constraints are considered and managed appropriately.
- Undertake site-based monitoring communicating regularly with Developers and identify risks and issues to ensure appropriate mitigation measures are in place.
- Contribute to technical / strategic groups to prepare defined products as required ensuring that policy and delivery are consistent and appropriate.
- Influence the work of others through representation at team and Developer events and build and maintain relationships and lines of communication.
- 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 and through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
- Required to take part in incident response activities
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.
- In-depth understanding of the relevant technical specialist area that includes environmental issues, climate change and sustainable development issues that impact on the NRW Managed Estate and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
- Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to biodiversity and heritage and the issues and opportunities for the NRW Managed Estate.
- Ability to represent the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the commercial development arena and be able to negotiate and influence effectively internally and externally to deliver ERH management.
- Experience of working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and / or qualifications.
- Good understanding / experience of Welsh planning system at local and PEDW level.
- Good interpersonal skills, team working skills and the ability to deal appropriately with people of all levels.
- Degree in environmental science or related subject and / or relevant experience of managing environmental issues on a construction site and you will be a Chartered member of a relevant professional institution and / or working towards membership.
Welsh Language Level requirements:
- Desirable: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)
Welsh language levels
Please note if you do not meet the level 1 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.
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.
