The role
Help us deliver Wales’s contribution to the global goal of conserving 30% of land, freshwater and marine environments by 2030. Working as part of NRW’s support for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), you’ll help create practical management plans for designated sites and work directly with farmers to identify actions that benefit habitats, species and the wider environment.
We are recruiting an Environment Officer in North West Wales, on fixed-term appointment until 31/03/2027 with the possibility of permanency. This role will be based out of our Dolgellau site.
You will provide technical expertise in protected site management, including regulatory work (assents and consents), proactive conservation advice, and developing partnerships and management agreements. Your role will support NRW’s biodiversity priorities and offer specialist input to colleagues and projects across the organisation.
You may also contribute to broader environmental management, including incident response, water resources, land and water quality, and work linked to delivering Water Framework Directive outcomes.
You’ll work alongside established operational teams and play a key role in improving environmental outcomes on the ground.
Driving is essential to this role as you will need to visit remote sites to form an opinion to enable the issuing of a consent or licence. You must hold a full and current UK driving license.
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 Arfon Hughes at arfon.hughes@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.
About us
At Natural Resources Wales (NRW), our vision is simple but ambitious: a future where people and nature thrive together. Everything we do is driven by the belief that a healthy natural environment underpins a strong economy, resilient communities, and a vibrant quality of life for everyone in Wales.
We play a central role in supporting Welsh Government to develop and deliver the Sustainable Farming Scheme, an initiative designed to create long-term benefits for nature, people, and the rural economy. Through this work, we help shape a more sustainable future for Welsh agriculture, ensuring land management supports biodiversity, combats climate change, and enhances the wellbeing of current and future generations.
Our teams are passionate, knowledgeable, and united by a shared purpose: to protect, restore, and reward the incredible landscapes and natural assets of Wales. If you join us, you’ll be part of a forward-thinking organisation where your contribution directly supports a greener, fairer and more sustainable future.
What you will do
- Work with a wide range of internal and external customers including permit holders, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
- Establish, maintain and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans through from concepts to implementation. These projects will deliver outcomes aligned with place priorities.
- Assess compliance with relevant legislation, permit or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible. Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
- Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites. For all work areas produce required advice, investigations, documentation and reports to agreed quality standards to support operational and management decisions, protected site notification, public enquiries, court cases etc so that information, evidence and NRW interests are accurately and effectively presented.
- Within your area of expertise, provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams. Maintain working relationships with these teams through regular liaison.
- Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices. Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery.
- Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service that follows NRW process to ensure effective, timely and safe response to incidents.
- 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.
- A good working knowledge of conservation and biodiversity, with focused experience in these distinct areas of the team remit.
- An understanding of how your role in a multi-functional team can contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources.
- Strong and effective self-management, organisational and ICT skills, including the ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or customised applications.
- The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others including experience of dealing successfully with difficult people or situations and proven ability to work well as part of a team.
- Ensure continuing professional and personal development, expertise and competence through formal and informal learning and certification.
- Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles (cars and vans).
Welsh Language level requirements
- Essential: Level C1 - Proficiency level
Please note: If you do not meet the Welsh language level requirements for this role your application will not be shortlisted.
