Communications Officer, Upper Wye Restoration

Team / Directorate: Upper Wye Restoration Team / Operations

Starting salary:  £36,246 rising to£39,942 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Fixed term until 31 March 2026

Work pattern: Part time, 18.5 hours per week

Interview date: To be confirmed

Post number: 203764

The role

As a member of the central Communications and Engagement team, you will work solely supporting the Upper Wye Restoration Team, to deliver  the ambitious work programme (planned to 31 March 2028) across the River Wye Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in Mid Wales. This will include practical river restoration, barrier removal, farm visits and land management advice, invasive species work and natural flood management, monitoring and stakeholder engagement.

The condition of the River Wye is a high profile topic. You will develop and deliver effective integrated communications in support of the Upper Wye Restoration project.

You will lead on organising and shaping NRW’s events programme for the project. Public engagement is key and local groups are likely to be keen to engage provided they are involved early enough.

You will shape and deliver high-quality and creative content across all channels, as befits your target audience.

You will deliver essential Communications services such as media relations, digital, social media, internal Communications, video production, branding and design, Communications planning and evaluation, content creation.

You will develop collaborations with local stakeholders to encourage community engagement to control INNS and engage in citizen science initiatives.

You will support the team in working closely with key catchment stakeholders (e.g. Wye and Usk Foundation, Freshwater Habitats Trust, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Wildlife Trusts, Farming Connect) to ensure integration of habitat improvement works and to identify opportunities for collaboration.

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 Susie Tudge at susie.tudge@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

• Manage and respond to communications with Upper Wye Restoration project stakeholders, in accordance with the Project Communications Plan.
• Manage, update and deliver the Project Communications Plan.
• Produce high-quality, engaging and effective content in support of the Upper Wye Restoration project.
• Deliver integrated Communications across all channels, with an audience, customer or partner focus.
• Contribute to development of creative campaigns and Comms plans for the Upper Wye Restoration project.
• Contribute to delivery of multiple campaigns as part of the project.
• Build relationships internally and externally in support of outcome delivery.
• Promote the project and increase collaboration with local community groups (e.g. Friends of the Upper Wye, the Wye Catchment Partnership, and Save the Wye Campaign), as well as encouraging citizen science participation in monitoring water quality and population trends (e.g. surveys to document changes in percentage cover of Ranunculus beds).  
• In collaboration with key stakeholders (e.g. WUF) develop and support community groups that will stop the spread of invasive plant species.
• Assist the project team in setting up farm cluster meetings to deliver advice and forge relationships
• Use insight to inform your Communications approach.
• Provide advice to the business in order to protect and promote our reputation and brand, either autonomously or with support from more senior team members when required.
• Be alert to reputational risks and escalate as appropriate to the Upper Wye Restoration Team Leader.
• 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. Some experience of working in a professional communications team of PR agency (at account executive level).
2. Good level of skill across all Communications disciplines and channels. 
   Member of relevant professional body and visible commitment to your own CPD (or be prepared to join).
3. Good understanding of NRW's remit, roles, policies and priorities in order to be able to drive effective communications campaigns in support of these.
4. Able to make sound judgement calls.
5. Excellent team working skills and the ability to represent the Upper Wye Restoration project to a variety of audiences including land managers.
6. The ability to drive a car currently and legally in the UK.

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

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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