Lead Environmental Advisor – Habitat & Water Regulation

Team / Directorate: Renewable Energy Advice Team / 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: 30/09/2025

Post number: 203995 (For office use: GGL / ENV / GRJ / TTJ)

The role

As Lead Specialist Advisor for Habitat Regulation and Water Framework Directive Assessments, you’ll be a strategic and knowledgeable environmental professional to lead the development and delivery of policies, strategies, and programmes related to environmental assessments—specifically Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) and Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments.

In this role, you'll play a central part in ensuring the legislation is applied consistently and effectively to support policy ambitions around major infrastructure consenting, including in the fast-growing marine and offshore renewable energy sectors. You’ll stay at the forefront of changes in policy, legislation, technology, and market developments—translating these into practical advice for Natural Resources Wales (NRW), the Welsh Government, and the wider marine sector.

Collaboration is key. You'll work closely with colleagues across NRW’s Marine Programme, including the Offshore Renewable Energy Programme, and contribute your expertise to cross-functional projects. You’ll also build and maintain strong relationships with external partners including colleagues from Welsh Government officials, sector representatives, consultants, and other nature conservation bodies.

This role reports to the Renewable Energy Advice Team Leader and offers the opportunity to make a real impact on the future of Wales’s marine 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 Rebecca Tilson Rebecca.Tillson@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

This role sits in the renewable Energy Advice Team within the Sustainable Places Land and Sea Group. You will work collaboratively with colleagues from other teams and Directorates across Natural Resources Wales (NRW), contributing to NRW’s organisation-wide Marine Programme including the Offshore Renewable Energy Programme. You will also build external partnerships with colleagues from other Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, officials from Welsh Government and sector representatives and their consultants.

What you will do

• Lead and project manage specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes in relation to environmental assessments such as HRA and WFD assessment. This will enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff to enable the delivery policy ambitions relating to major infrastructure consenting.
• 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.
• Provide advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of environmental assessments (primarily HRA and WFD) identifying the implications of policy, legislative, technology and market changes for Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales and the Marine sector.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to environmental assessment derogation.
• Support the development and training of staff across NRW by applying technical, legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience.
• 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 Marine Planning; Welsh & UK Governments & EU policy drivers in environmental assessments (HRA & WFD); and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders involved with the development of major infrastructure development in Wales and the UK.
3. Experience in forming and maintaining close links with internal and external partners/stakeholders to deliver the outcomes of both a specific function/project/team and the wider organisation.
4. In-depth understanding of the HRA and WFD assessment process  and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
5. Be able to work at pace and have a track record of delivery
6. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
7. Representing organisations in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
8. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.

Welsh language level requirements

• Desirable:  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. 

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