Specialist Advisor - Marine Ornithology

Team / Directorate: All Wales Marine Advice Team / Operations

Starting salary:  £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 05/06/2026

Work pattern:  Full time, 37 hours per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview Date: 22/07/2025

Post number: 202441 ENV

The role

In this unique, impact-driven role, you’ll provide expert advice on how developments — from offshore wind farms to coastal infrastructure — may affect seabirds and their habitats. You’ll work at the interface of science, policy and planning, offering specialist input to influence decisions that shape Wales’ marine environment.

You’ll collaborate across teams within NRW, support casework and marine licensing decisions, and help steer major marine projects. Externally, you’ll work closely with developers, regulators, and UK partners to improve guidance, close evidence gaps, and ensure legislation is met.

What makes this role exciting?

• Specialist influence – Be the go-to expert on marine ornithology across NRW’s casework and coastal management.
• Strategic collaboration – Work alongside technical experts in marine mammals, benthic habitats, water quality, and more.
• Hands-on impact – Lead evidence projects, shape policy, and provide advice that directly influences Wales’ sustainable development.
• Diverse engagement – From internal consultations to representing NRW at national forums and public inquiries.

If you’re an experienced ornithologist with a strong understanding of marine policy and development, this is your opportunity to help safeguard the future of Wales’ marine wildlife — and contribute to decisions that matter.

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 Moon at  james.moon@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be held on 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 will report to the All Wales Marine Advice Team Leader and join a team of technical specialists which cover a range of receptors, such as marine mammals, marine water quality, marine fish, physical processes and benthic habitats. The team sits alongside the marine casework team which leads on our response to marine development consultations and also the marine monitoring and marine projects teams which are all within the Marine Service in our Operations directorate. We also work closely with colleagues in our strategic and regulatory teams including marine policy, marine ecosystems and marine licensing teams in our Evidence, Policy and Permitting directorate.

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data in relation to maritime ornithology. 
• Provide specialist technical advice internally to directly inform NRW’s external casework responses, and also internal casework determination where NRW is the regulator, (for example, marine licenses). Internal advice will also directly inform NRW’s marine and coastal management functions. 
• Provide specialist technical advice externally to (a) developers and regulators at a local, regional and national level, (b) regional and national stakeholder for a and (c) expert witness role at inquiries as appropriate. 
• Lead development of relevant casework guidance. Develop procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working. Inform the development of NRW, Welsh Government and other Partners policy, statutory advice and guidance documents. 
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as sector representatives, Welsh Government, partners, JNCC and other Environment Bodies in the UK to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations. 
• Advise on evidence gaps and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme. 
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• 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).

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.

1. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to marine and coastal ecosystems and assigned sector(s); Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in marine and coastal ecosystems and assigned sector(s) and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Substantial experience in provision of specialist technical marine advice, at a regional or all-Wales level, in maritime ornithology.
3. Experience of: technical analysis and interpreting a range of environmental information and data; analysing large data sets.
4. Specialist technical knowledge related to marine and coastal ornithology.
5. Working with/in Welsh Government, statutory nature conservation bodies, eNGOs, public bodies and marine sector representative bodies.
6. Good project management, work planning and prioritisation skills.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)

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.

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. 

Apply for this role

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