Environmental Planner

Natural Resources Wales; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Natural Resources Wales is seeking a motivated environmental planner to enhance the water environment in Wales. The successful candidate will provide expertise on planning applications, collaborate with stakeholders, and contribute to policy development within the Planning, Landscape and Energy Team.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme with 28.97% contributions

Flexible working options

28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days

Professional development commitment

Wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in technical analysis and interpretation of land use planning data.
• Knowledge of Welsh, UK, and EU legislation related to land use planning.
• Experience working with Welsh Government and Local Authorities.

Responsibilities

• Prepare technical assessments using complex data.
• Advise on environmental impact for planning applications.
• Manage development of procedures and guidance.

Skills

Technical analysis

Environmental assessment

Project management

Knowledge of land use planning

Communication skills

Welsh language proficiency

Education

RTPI membership or working towards it

Job description

Natural Resources Wales may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date

Team / Directorate: Planning, Landscape and Energy Team / Evidence, Policy and Permitting

Starting salary: £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

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: 4 July 2025

Post number: 203932

The role

We are looking for a motivated environmental planner to help us make a positive difference to the quality of the water environment in Wales.

You will join our Planning, Landscape and Energy Team and work with colleagues across NRW on securing good condition for our Special Areas of Conservation which are sensitive to increases in nutrient levels. This will involve:

• developing advice and guidance for internal colleagues and for planning authorities;
• providing expert advice in response to planning application and development plan consultations;
• working closely with various environmental specialisms within NRW and external stakeholders in the development of new and innovative tools to ensure environmentally informed decision-making within the planning system.

You will be a planner, or have worked in environmental management, with a good knowledge of the planning system and environmental assessment processes including Habitat Regulations Assessments.

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.

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.

About us

Natural Resources Wales is the largest Welsh Government Sponsored Body, focussed on tackling the climate, nature and pollution emergencies.

Our Planning, Landscape and Energy Team advises the Welsh Government and UK Government departments to ensure their proposals for new and amended policies and legislation for planning, energy and landscape provides adequate protection for Wales's environment and natural resources. We also work with other NRW specialists in developing new guidance for, and providing expert advice to, internal and external colleagues to support environmentally informed decision-making.

Our contribution supports Natural Resources Wales's mission to deliver nature's recovery, ensure resilience to climate change, and minimise pollution.

What you will do

The successful candidate will:

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data.
• 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.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, planning authorities, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, POSW, PEDW, PINS, sector and business leads, professional and other statutory bodies in the UK to influence development projects at the earliest opportunity; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as require.
• 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 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 theSTAR method .

• Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to land use planning. Welsh, UK Government policy drivers and strategies in land use planning and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
• Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex land use planning and spatial information and data sources including the preparation of LA development plans, development planning and environmental assessment (SEA, HRA, WFD and EIA) processes.
• Working with Welsh Government, PINS, Local Authorities, Designated Landscapes, professional bodies business and sectors.
• Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
• You will be a member of RTPI/other environment professional body and/or working towards membership.
• Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.
• Essential:Level A1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

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.

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

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.

Please save these advert details for future reference as they will no longer be available online after the closing date.