Specialist Water Quality Policy Advisor

Team / Directorate: Water Quality / Evidence, Policy & Permitting

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 to 31 December 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: Week commencing 19 May 2025

Post number: 203749

The role

As a Water Quality Policy Specialist Advisor, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of water quality management in Wales. You will lead the provision of expert technical assessments and specialist advice to support the development of Natural Resources Wales (NRW) policies, programmes, plans, strategies, and guidance. Your work will have a meaningful impact, collaborating with colleagues across our Evidence, Policy and Permitting (EPP) teams, operational teams, Welsh Government officials, and key sector representatives.

A central part of your role will involve working closely with NRW and water company leads to identify water quality priorities and drive the delivery of policy, advice, and guidance that maximises environmental outcomes. Specifically, you will contribute to NRW’s approach to tackling the challenges posed by storm overflows and continuous discharges, ensuring our efforts align with the PR24 wastewater investment programme.

You will be joining the Water Quality Policy Team, part of the Water & Nature Group within Natural Resources Management Policy. As part of a dispersed and dynamic team working across Wales, you will enjoy the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements, enabling a balance between collaboration and independence. This is a unique opportunity to influence water quality policy and make a tangible difference to the natural environment.

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 Geraint Weber.

geraint.weber@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments for new or revised Water Quality policy, drawing on a range of information and data sources; working with EPP staff to draw in relevant information and evidence.
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, advice and guidance documents; Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, Ofwat, EA, SEPA, Water UK and water companies and other Environment bodies in the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain knowledge of the water sector identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the water environment in Wales.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development Plan.
• 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 Water Quality; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers, strategic plans and initiatives in Water Quality (WG Water Strategy, wider UK strategies); and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex water quality and environmental information and data sources; analysing large data sets using spreadsheets and relevant models.
3. Working with: water companies, local authorities, eNGOs, Governments (UK), farming unions; representing NRW on key policy groups (Wales/UK).
4. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications. 
5. You will be a member of CIWEM or another relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
6. 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

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion.   We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

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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