The role
Are you ready to influence the future of waste crime in Wales? This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and deliver NRW's approach to Tackling Waste Crime across Wales. Working within the Industry and Waste Regulatory Approaches Team, you will support national projects, develop innovative approaches and work closely with Tackling Waste Crime Officers and partners to improve how NRW prevents, disrupts and responds to waste crime.
You will support the delivery of Tackling Waste Crime priorities, help identify opportunities for continuous improvement and contribute to the development of future capability across waste crime. Through project delivery, technical and analytical expertise, collaboration and innovation, you will help ensure NRW remains adaptable and effective in responding to changing environmental, regulatory and organisational priorities.
You will support the Lead Specialist Advisor in developing Tackling Waste Crime capability and priority work programmes. Strengthen prevention, disruption, regulatory and investigative outcomes, while ensuring NRW remains responsive to emerging risks and challenges.
You will also work closely with Tackling Waste Crime Officers to develop, test and evaluate innovative techniques and approaches to tackle waste crime, supporting the continuous improvement of operational and investigative practice. Working alongside the Lead Specialist Advisor and colleagues from across NRW, you will contribute specialist knowledge, operational learning and practical recommendations regarding Waste Crime in Wales.
This is a high-impact role at the heart of the waste crime strategy in Wales – ideal for someone with a proactive mindset and a strong background in waste regulation and enforcement. Join our expert, passionate team and help shape a thriving and fair playing-field for sustainable waste treatment for Wales. Flexible working, a supportive culture, and the chance to make a meaningful difference await. If you’re driven by environmental protection and are driven to deliver initiatives at pace – we’d love to hear from you.
This post is fixed term until 31 March 2027 with the possibility of extension or permanency.
Driving is essential to this role as you will be required to visit remote locations, possibly with immediate response, where public transport will not always be possible. You must hold a full and current UK driving license.
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. You will be required to attend team meetings in Cardiff once a month. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Emily Roe at Emily.Roe@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place on 9 December 2026 through Microsoft Teams
About us
The Industry and Waste Regulatory Approaches Team plays a leading role in shaping how Natural Resources Wales (NRW) prevents, disrupts and responds to waste crime across Wales. Bringing together specialist expertise in waste regulation, enforcement, project delivery and innovation, the team develops strategic approaches that protect the environment, support legitimate businesses and strengthen NRW's regulatory effectiveness. Working collaboratively with Tackling Waste Crime Officers, operational teams and external partners, the team drives continuous improvement, delivers national priorities and helps build the future capability needed to tackle emerging waste crime challenges across Wales.
What you will do
- Analyse, design and implement approaches that turn Government Policy and corporate strategies and plans into cost effective and sustainable activity in Wales.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of legislative, technology and market changes that have consequences for waste crime in Wales.
- Support the development of staff across NRW by applying technical, legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience.
- Contribute to the delivery of the team’s work plan, business plan, the directorate delivery plan and NRWs corporate plan.
- Lead on or support national projects to achieve well planned and integrated solutions that progress effective change, continuous improvement and future capacity development; and assess emerging trends that strengthen NRW’s ability to prevent, detect, disrupt and respond to waste crime across Wales.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with specialist colleagues, Tackling Waste Crime Officers and partners to support effective delivery and organisational learning.
- Develop, review and improve technical documentation, to enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff in the business that enables effective service provision.
- Act as technical mentor and advisor to TWC team members
- 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.
- Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation/policy drivers related to the Waste sector.
- Experience in informing and influencing other regulators and stakeholders to enable effective resolution of environmental issues following the SMNR principles.
- Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external partners to deliver outcomes and adapt to changing priorities.
- 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.
Additional Information
Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate must be eligible to undergo and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance and vetting required for the role. This may include checks such as SC, CTC, NPPV or other national security vetting requirements. Eligibility criteria may include residency requirements. Further details can be found on the National Security Vetting pages on GOV.UK. Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
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.
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 equal 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 want to work full-time, part-time, or job share.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the closing date to apply.
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