Conservation Officer

Contract Type: Fixed term appointment until 30 September 2023

Work Pattern: Full time, 37 hours 

Post Number: 200760

As an organisation we support flexible working. This role allows hybrid working (a mix of home and office working) and a working pattern suitable for you can be discussed on appointment if you are successful.

You will be contracted to the NRW location stated in this advert, of which you will be required to attend for regular meetings, training and for one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.

Job description

Environment Team activities lie at the heart of delivering the Sustainable Management of our Natural Resources (SMNR) in Wales and tackling the Climate and Nature Emergencies.

As an officer within an Environment Team, you will have a focus on protected sites helping the team manage the suite of protected sites within the Carmarthenshire areas with aim of getting them into favourable condition. The work will include direct regulation through assenting and consenting of activities, and securing effective pro-active management through advice, guidance and developing management agreements and partnerships.

You will be field and office based, you will need to write reports, collect evidence and engage with a variety of stakeholders in the private and public sectors. The ability to communicate well both in writing and verbally is therefore essential for this role.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and professional officer who can work at a fast pace, often to tight deadlines and who is able to effectively prioritise their workload to deliver more for the environment.  If this sounds like you – apply now!

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities include:

• Work with a wide range of internal and external customers including permit holders, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
• Establish, maintain and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans through from concepts to implementation. These projects will deliver outcomes aligned with place priorities.
• Assess compliance with relevant legislation, permit or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible. Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites. For all work areas produce required advice, investigations, documentation and reports to agreed quality standards to support operational and management decisions, protected site notification, public enquiries, court cases etc so that information, evidence and NRW interests are accurately and effectively presented.
• Within your area of expertise, provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams. Maintain working relationships with these teams through regular liaison.
• Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices. Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery.
• Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service that follows NRW process to ensure effective, timely and safe response to incidents.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

Qualifications, experience and knowledge

Knowledge and experience of the following: 

1. A good working knowledge of environment management, agriculture, fisheries, conservation or biodiversity, with focused experience in one of these distinct areas of the team remit.
2. An understanding of how these multi-functional teams can contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources.
3. Ensure continuing professional and personal development, expertise and competence through formal and informal learning and certification.
4. Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.  
5. The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others. Experience of dealing successfully with difficult people/situations is important.
6. The ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or NRW customised applications.
7. Able to work well as part of a team.
8. Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles. (cars and vans)

Welsh language requirements:

Essential Level 1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

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.

Competencies

Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following competencies, both at shortlisting and interview. Please give examples of how you demonstrate these competencies when completing your application form.

Benefits of working for us

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Agile and flexible working (role dependent) 
• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 26.6% to 30.3%
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support
• Weekly well-being hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

How to Apply

Please send a completed Application form to Applications@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk using the post number as the email reference

Before completing your application, please read our Guidance on completing a job application form

Application closing date 26 March 2023

Interviews will take place week commencing 3 April 2023 through Microsoft Teams.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact Hayley Barrett at Hayley.barrett@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk or 07901110474

Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented, including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability. We have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.