Lead Peatland Evidence Specialist

Team / Directorate: Habitats and Species / Evidence, Policy and Permitting

Starting salary:  £45,367 rising to £50,877 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

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: 15 September 2025

Post number: 203685 (For office use only: M, GGL, ENV, GRJ)

The role

Join us in shaping the future of Wales' peatlands as part of Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) exciting National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP), funded by the Welsh Government. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a high-profile, cross-functional team that sits within both NRW’s Environment, Planning and Place (EPP) and Strategic Projects directorates.

As our peatland evidence lead, you’ll be at the heart of efforts to protect, sustainably manage, and restore one of Wales’ most important natural resources. You’ll ensure our work is driven by the latest science and research — and that, in turn, our projects help shape the growing evidence base for peatland conservation. In this role, you’ll provide expert technical advice and lead on the development, commissioning, and management of evidence-based projects. You’ll collaborate with a wide range of partners including universities, research institutions, UK conservation agencies, and Welsh Government officials. Working across NRW’s teams, you’ll help embed robust, up-to-date peatland evidence into decision-making at every level.If you're passionate about using science to drive real-world environmental impact, this is your chance to make a difference on a national scale.

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 Dr James Latham.

james.latham@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 

Interviews will take place through 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.

What you will do

• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience and NPAP evidence programmes.
• Lead and collaborate with the senior specialist advisor peatlands and others across the organisation on the development and commissioning of work to address NPAP evidence needs. 
• Manage NPAPs peatland evidence budget
• Contribute and in some cases lead Welsh Government (WG) evidence commissions relevant to peatlands.
• Provide advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate. 
• Lead on developing relationships with external evidence providers.
• Lead and project manage the development of joint projects with external evidence providers
• Ensure liaison with and adherence to NRW evidence team standards etc
• Ensuring technical NPAP outputs are reported appropriately (e.g. publication of Evidence Reports etc)
• Be responsible for interpreting and reporting on environmental data turning it into evidence and then to disseminating complex technical information and data to a range of audiences ranging from technically proficient to non-technical.  
• Work closely with other NRW specialists in NPAP, terrestrial ecosystem and species specialists, specialists covering water quality and flood risk evidence, and the Strategic Evidence Group
• Retain ownership and maintain a detailed working knowledge of peatland evidence areas, identifying the implications of legislative, technological advances in evidence for Natural Resources Wales. 
• 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).
• 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.

1. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to biodiversity; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in biodiversity; and the issues and opportunities in Wales. 
2. Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders involved with biodiversity in Wales. Specialist technical knowledge related to one or more of the following - habitats/mammals/birds/invertebrates/reptiles and amphibians/higher plants/lower plants. 
3. Experience of undertaking or commissioning evidence projects, either relating directly to peatlands or of demonstrable relevance to peatland ecosystems
4. Experience of: In-depth understanding of the relevant technical specialist area and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery. 
5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications. 
6. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
7. Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
   Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.
    

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: 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. 

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