The role
Are you an experienced investigator or disclosure professional looking to apply your expertise in a role that makes a real difference to Wales' environment and communities?
As a Senior Officer, Disclosure and Investigative Support, you will play a pivotal role in supporting complex criminal investigations across Natural Resources Wales. Working alongside Senior Investigating Officers and operational teams, you will lead the management of evidential material and disclosure processes, ensuring compliance with legal requirements while supporting successful enforcement outcomes.
This is a specialist role that combines analytical thinking, sound judgement and technical expertise, providing advice and guidance on some of NRW's most complex and high-profile investigations. If you thrive on solving complex problems, working collaboratively with others and upholding the highest standards of investigative practice, we would like to hear from you.
Driving is essential to this role. Whilst much of the work undertaken by the successful candidate will be office based, there will be a requirement to travel to locations across Wales to work in person with colleagues and support operational activities. Due to the all-Wales remit of the team, travel is a regular and essential aspect of the role, and public transport will not always provide a practical, timely or appropriate means of accessing required locations. As such, the post holder must be able to travel independently across Wales to fulfil the requirements of the role.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location 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 Ian Thomas at ian.g.thomas@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.
About us
The Central Enforcement Support Team provides a national, once-for-Wales service that supports regulatory and enforcement activity across Natural Resources Wales. Working across multiple functions and directorates, the team delivers a broad range of specialist services, including intelligence management, investigative support, the application of enforcement legislation, production of the Strategic Crime Assessment, and collaboration with partners across the wider law enforcement community.
This is an exciting time to join the team as we continue to develop and strengthen our capabilities. We are investing in the professionalisation of enforcement and investigative practice, building our capacity to tackle increasingly complex challenges, and ensuring NRW has the intelligence, expertise and partnerships needed to protect Wales' environment and natural resources effectively. As part of this evolving team, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to high-profile and impactful work that supports NRW's regulatory and enforcement objectives.
What you will do
- Provide a lead role in the effective management of the disclosure process for criminal investigations across NRW.
- Support the Senior Investigating Officer in the planning and delivery of complex investigations, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, codes of practice and organisational procedures.
- Review, assess, schedule and disclose evidential material in accordance with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act (CPIA), ensuring that all relevant material is identified, recorded and managed appropriately.
- Analyse complex evidential, procedural and legal information, applying professional judgement to determine disclosure requirements and provide recommendations to investigators and decision makers.
- Prepare, maintain and quality assure disclosure schedules, reports, records and associated documentation to support enforcement action and legal proceedings.
- Provide specialist advice, guidance and support to investigators, operational teams and colleagues on disclosure obligations, evidential management and investigative best practice.
- Support the identification and resolution of complex investigative issues, recommending appropriate investigative tactics and options in accordance with legal and procedural requirements.
- Work collaboratively with operational teams, legal advisers and other internal stakeholders to ensure investigations are progressed effectively and consistently.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and continuous improvement of disclosure processes, procedures, guidance and working practices.
- Support and mentor colleagues in the application of disclosure requirements and investigative procedures, sharing knowledge and promoting best practice across NRW.
- Coordinate and oversee specific disclosure activities within investigations, ensuring work is completed to required standards and timescales.
- Prioritise workload and manage competing demands across multiple complex investigations, ensuring statutory obligations and organisational priorities are met.
- Attend court, tribunals and formal proceedings as required, representing NRW and providing witness evidence in support of enforcement action.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including legal representatives, enforcement partners and regulatory bodies.
- Participate in NRW technical and strategic working groups and, where required, represent NRW on external forums and networks.
- 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.
- Detailed knowledge of key legislative regimes including PACE, CPIA 1996 and its Code of Practice, RIPA 2000, GDPR, POCA and Government Security Classifications.
- A sound understanding of relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks relating to NRW's enforcement and regulatory functions.
- Significant experience of evidential review, disclosure management or criminal investigation processes.
- The ability to analyse and interpret complex technical, evidential and legal information and provide clear recommendations and advice.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility and maintain effective working relationships at all levels.
- The ability to exercise sound professional judgement and make reasoned decisions in challenging or sensitive situations.
- Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills, including the ability to prepare reports, records and documentation for use in legal proceedings.
- The ability to prioritise workloads effectively and manage competing demands within a complex regulatory environment.
- A degree level qualification in a relevant subject area or equivalent knowledge and experience.
Welsh Language level requirements
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level
Please note If you do not meet the Welsh language level requirements for this role your application will not be shortlisted.
Additional Information
Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years’ continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK. Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (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 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.