Development & Flood Risk Senior Advisor

Team / Directorate: Flood Risk Analysis / Evidence, Policy and Procedure

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: 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: 10/09/2025

Post number: 204019

The role

We’re looking for experienced and motivated planning professionals to help shape the future of infrastructure development in Wales. This is a unique opportunity to join Natural Resources Wales (NRW) as we respond to major Welsh Government investment in marine, decarbonisation, and nuclear projects.

As a Development Planning Specialist Advisor, you’ll play a vital role in strengthening NRW’s planning advice—especially around flood risk. You’ll lead the development of clear, accessible guidance and standing advice to support efficient, high-quality planning decisions across Wales.

In your first year, your focus will be on creating and refining guidance materials and standing responses. From year two, your time will be split between casework and further development of planning advice.

We’re looking for someone with a strong understanding of the Welsh planning system, including key legislation such as TAN 15 and the Flood and Water Management Act. You’ll need to be confident working in a fast-paced environment, able to simplify complex technical issues, and skilled in engaging with a range of stakeholders—from local authorities to government officials.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real impact by helping to deliver a more consistent, responsive, and sustainable planning system—supporting responsible development while protecting people, property, and the natural environment.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location 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 Mark Pugh at Mark.Pugh@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.

About us

This role sits within the Flood Risk Analysis Group, part of the Flood & Incident Risk Management department in the Evidence, Policy & Permitting directorate.

Our team plays a vital role in ensuring flood risk and environmental constraints are fully considered in planning and permitting decisions—helping Wales build climate resilience and support sustainable development. We develop policy, guidance, and processes that enable NRW to influence both strategic and local planning, including major infrastructure projects.

This vacancy supports our ability to meet increasing demand for expert flood risk advice, contributing to faster, more consistent planning responses. It helps us deliver on NRW’s wider goals of climate adaptation, nature recovery, and high-quality environmental regulation—ensuring communities and infrastructure are better protected from the impacts of climate change.

What you will do

• Provide professional, strategic and technical leadership in the direction of planning and flood risk activity permitting, including the provision of advice and direction to senior managers, NRW Leadership Team and Welsh Government officials.  
• Actively contribute to National FRM Sub Groups to advise, build consistency, develop policy & guidance and provide technical expertise. 
• Build relationships with professional partners and the WLGA, to help the delivery of Local Authority flood schemes and raise awareness of flood risk.  
• Promote consistency in operational response  to planning consultations for developments in flood risk areas including Strategic Flood Consequence Assessments, LDP’s & NSIPs. 
• Promote consistency in flood risk operational response to Infrastructure Consent Order consultations. 
• Support the delivery of Flood Risk Activity Permits across Wales, through the development and implementation of strategic guidance and processes that align with  the requirements of the EPR and other relevant environmental legislation.  
• Support Health & Safety best practice by actively promoting awareness and ensuring the provision of safe working practices to comply with NRW’s policy and standards. 
• 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. Relevant Qualifications – Educated to degree level in a science or engineering discipline. 
2. Member or working towards membership of a relevant professional body. 
3. Comprehensive understanding of WG Technical Advice Note 15 and Planning Guidance Wales to support operational flood risk teams, including the interpretation and implementation of Welsh Government policy.  
4. Thorough understanding of the EPR Regulations and NRW Flood Risk Activity Permit process.  
5. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to write clear and concise documents and able to present information in a professional manner.  
6. Experienced in engaging and influencing senior internal and external stakeholders.  
7. Must have a full UK driving licence. 

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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