Development Planning Advisor

ZipRecruiter; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency focused on environmental conservation in Wales is seeking two Development Planning Advisors to provide expert environmental advice. The ideal candidates will have experience in development planning and environmental impact assessments. This role offers a competitive salary, opportunities for hybrid working, and a chance to influence sustainable development practices in local planning.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme with employer contributions

28 to 33 days annual leave

Health and wellbeing benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in development planning processes and working with the development sector.
• Experience of applying and reviewing environmental impact assessments.
• Able to communicate effectively with Local Planning Authorities, businesses, and the public.
• Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.
• Able to analyse complex situations and make sound judgments.
• Able to write clear, concise documents.
• Able to work well as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Produce advice to Local Development Plans, ensuring it is robust and delivered to deadline.
• Engage with development proposals and deliver evidence-based input.
• Maintain auditable records of actions and outcomes.
• Develop effective customer relationships and understand their needs.
• Identify opportunities to influence local development projects.

Skills

Development planning processes

Environmental impact assessments

Effective communication

Self-management

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Job description

Job DescriptionTeam / Directorate: Development planning Advice Service North / 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: 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: 15/09/2025

Post number: 200029, 202787 (For office use: GGL / ENV / GRJ / TTJ)

The role

Are you passionate about shaping sustainable development in Wales? Do you want to help safeguard our natural resources while playing a key role in planning the places where we live, work, and thrive?

We're looking for two Development Planning Advisors to join our expert team within Natural Resources Wales. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals with experience in environmental assessment or the town and country planning system who are ready to make a real impact.

You'll provide authoritative environmental advice to Local Planning Authorities and other stakeholders, helping to shape everything from housing and infrastructure to energy and agriculture. Your work will influence both strategic development plans and individual planning applications, covering topics such as flood risk, biodiversity, water quality, landscape, and more.

You'll engage with a wide variety of development proposals—from infrastructure projects to local regeneration schemes—and work alongside technical specialists across NRW to deliver evidence-based, timely, and effective input.

This is a varied and rewarding role, ideal for someone who enjoys collaboration, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is confident communicating complex issues to a range of audiences. Your advice will help ensure that development in Wales is sustainable, resilient, and aligned with our environmental responsibilities.

We offer a supportive, flexible working environment including hybrid options, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to influence real-world outcomes that benefit people and nature alike.

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 Bryn Jones at [e-mail].

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams.

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS). Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us

Our Development Planning Advice Service is responsible for providing expert and influential environmental advice to Planning Authorities and Welsh Government to support their decision making.

What you will do

• Produce Advice to Local Development Plans, including advice on their Strategic Environmental Assessment (with the support of the Development Planning Advisor (6) on technically complex, high-risk proposals) ensuring the advice is robust, evidence-based, and delivered to deadline.
• Produce Advice to pre-application enquiries, development management consultations, Development of Significance, and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (with the support of the Development Planning Advisor (6) on technically complex, high-risk development proposals) ensuring NRW advice is robust, evidence-based, and delivered to deadline.
• Preparation of information in relation to challenges against NRW development planning advice, including attendance at Appeals and Inquiries.
• Development of effective customer relationships (internal and external) and ensuring a good understanding of customer needs.
• Identify opportunities to influence local Development projects and plans at the earliest opportunity.
• Maintain auditable records of actions and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales' Equal Opportunities and 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).

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.

• Experience in development planning processes and working with the development sector.
• Experience of applying and reviewing environmental impact assessments.
• Able to communicate effectively with Local Planning Authorities, businesses, and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.
• Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.
• Able to analyse complex information and situations, solve problems, and make sound judgments.
• Able to write clear, concise documents.
• Able to work well as part of a team and lead virtual task groups.

Welsh level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)
• Desirable: 202787: Level B2 - Upper intermediate level (able to discuss work matters)

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement, i.e., the ability to understand basic phrases and pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during 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 race, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, and maternity, paternity, or belief.

We are committed to equal opportunities and 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, stay current in their field, and continue to learn as their careers progress.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Standards. Welsh skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop, and use their Welsh skills.