Lead Specialist Advisor, Portfolio Performance & Insight

Natural Resources Wales (Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru); Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 47,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Wellbeing benefits

Professional development

Weekly wellbeing hour

Job summary

Natural Resources Wales is seeking a Portfolio Performance & Insight Lead Specialist Advisor to transform data into actionable insight, monitor progress against the Corporate Plan, and develop dashboards and reporting products. You will work with the Portfolio Office and senior leaders to drive strategic decisions and improvements across NRW.

This permanent role offers flexible working with a hybrid pattern, close collaboration across teams, and opportunities to influence organisational outcomes

Qualifications

• Significant experience in corporate performance management, portfolio management or organisational performance oversight within a large and complex organisation.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, integrate and synthesise complex qualitative and quantitative information to provide timely, evidence-based insight that supports strategic decision-making and organisational oversight.
• Ability to assess organisational performance and identify trends, risks, dependencies, opportunities and outcomes, translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable insight for senior leaders and governance groups.
• Experience of developing performance dashboards, reporting products and trend analysis, using data analysis, business intelligence and visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI, Excel, Minitab or equivalent) to communicate delivery, outcomes and benefits effectively.
• Excellent communication, presentation and report-writing skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly, concisely and persuasively to senior leaders, governance groups and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries, build collaborative relationships and drive delivery through influence rather than direct management authority.

Responsibilities

• Analyse organisational intelligence from business plans, service plans, major programmes, evaluation activity, risk reporting and other sources to provide a forward-looking view of organisational performance, outcomes and benefits realisation.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards, visualisations and reporting products that provide clear, accessible and impactful insight into delivery progress, trends, risks and organisational performance at portfolio level.
• Enable live monitoring and reporting of WBO delivery, using trend measures, ambition measures and long-term indicators to assess progress and identify areas requiring intervention.
• Provide independent assessment of delivery and performance against agreed objectives and plans, ensuring leaders have a clear understanding of organisational progress, achievement of outcomes and delivery confidence.
• Lead the coordination and quality assurance of portfolio reporting inputs from across NRW, working through matrix arrangements with planning, performance, finance, risk, assurance and programme colleagues to ensure timely, accurate and consistent insight for the Portfolio Group.
• Identify and analyse cross-cutting risks, dependencies, opportunities and emerging issues that may affect delivery, supporting the ET in agreeing appropriate mitigating actions.
• Provide coaching, guidance and technical advice to colleagues on portfolio reporting, performance analysis, dashboard development, benefits tracking and interpretation of organisational intelligence.
• Use data analysis, business intelligence and performance management techniques to translate complex quantitative and qualitative information into actionable insight for senior leaders and governance committees.
• Promote an organisation-wide understanding of interdependencies and impacts, highlighting how activity in one business area may positively or negatively influence delivery and outcomes elsewhere across NRW.
• 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 developmentthrough the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Skills

Performance management

Portfolio management

Analytical skills

Dashboard development

Communication

Stakeholder management

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Minitab

Job description

Vacancy Portfolio Performance & Insight Lead Specialist Advisor Role ID 204383 Directorate National Operations Team Portfolio Group Location Flexible Grade/Salary range 07: £47,055 - £52,770 Working pattern Full time - 37 hours per week Working hours 37.00 Contract type Permanent Welsh Language level A2 – Elementary Closing date 25/10/2026

The role

Are you passionate about turning complex information into meaningful insight that drives real change? As our Portfolio Performance & Insight Lead Specialist Advisor, you'll play a key role in helping Natural Resources Wales understand, monitor and deliver its strategic priorities.

Working within the Portfolio Office, you'll bring together performance, planning, risk and delivery information from across the organisation to provide a clear picture of progress against our Corporate Plan and long-term objectives. Using your analytical expertise, you'll transform complex data into actionable insight, helping senior leaders make informed decisions and identify opportunities, risks and emerging challenges.

This is a high-profile role where you'll develop impactful dashboards, reports and performance intelligence products, working collaboratively with colleagues across NRW to improve how we measure, monitor and communicate organisational performance. You'll provide expert advice, challenge and support, ensuring decision-makers have the evidence they need to deliver positive outcomes for the people, communities and natural environment of Wales.

If you're an experienced performance, portfolio or business intelligence professional who enjoys influencing at a strategic level and making a tangible organisational impact, we'd love to hear from you.

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 take place on w/c 09/11/2026through Microsoft Teams.

About us

At Natural Resources Wales (NRW), we're dedicated to protecting, improving and sustainably managing Wales's natural resources for current and future generations. From responding to environmental incidents and tackling the climate and nature emergencies, to managing flood risk, forestry, biodiversity and water quality, our work has a direct impact on the wellbeing of people, communities and the environment across Wales.

The Portfolio Office sits at the heart of organisational delivery, helping NRW turn strategy into action. Our team provides the insight, coordination and assurance needed to support delivery of NRW's Corporate Plan and long-term priorities. Working closely with colleagues from across the organisation, we bring together information, expertise and perspectives to help leaders understand performance, manage risk and make informed decisions.

This is an exciting time to join NRW as we continue to evolve and strengthen how we deliver for Wales. You'll be part of a collaborative, supportive and forward-thinking organisation where your ideas, expertise and contribution will help shape the future of both the organisation and the natural environment we serve.

What you will do

• Analyse organisational intelligence from business plans, service plans, major programmes, evaluation activity, risk reporting and other sources to provide a forward-looking view of organisational performance, outcomes and benefits realisation.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards, visualisations and reporting products that provide clear, accessible and impactful insight into delivery progress, trends, risks and organisational performance at portfolio level.
• Enable live monitoring and reporting of WBO delivery, using trend measures, ambition measures and long-term indicators to assess progress and identify areas requiring intervention.
• Provide independent assessment of delivery and performance against agreed objectives and plans, ensuring leaders have a clear understanding of organisational progress, achievement of outcomes and delivery confidence.
• Lead the coordination and quality assurance of portfolio reporting inputs from across NRW, working through matrix arrangements with planning, performance, finance, risk, assurance and programme colleagues to ensure timely, accurate and consistent insight for the Portfolio Group.
• Identify and analyse cross-cutting risks, dependencies, opportunities and emerging issues that may affect delivery, supporting the ET in agreeing appropriate mitigating actions.
• Provide coaching, guidance and technical advice to colleagues on portfolio reporting, performance analysis, dashboard development, benefits tracking and interpretation of organisational intelligence.
• Use data analysis, business intelligence and performance management techniques to translate complex quantitative and qualitative information into actionable insight for senior leaders and governance committees.
• Promote an organisation-wide understanding of interdependencies and impacts, highlighting how activity in one business area may positively or negatively influence delivery and outcomes elsewhere across NRW.
• 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 developmentthrough the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• 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.

• Significant experience in corporate performance management, portfolio management or organisational performance oversight within a large and complex organisation.
• Exceptional analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, integrate and synthesise complex qualitative and quantitative information to provide timely, evidence-based insight that supports strategic decision-making and organisational oversight.
• Ability to assess organisational performance and identify trends, risks, dependencies, opportunities and outcomes, translating complex information into clear recommendations and actionable insight for senior leaders and governance groups.
• Experience of developing performance dashboards, reporting products and trend analysis, using data analysis, business intelligence and visualisation tools (e.g. Power BI, Excel, Minitab or equivalent) to communicate delivery, outcomes and benefits effectively.
• Excellent communication, presentation and report-writing skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly, concisely and persuasively to senior leaders, governance groups and a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries, build collaborative relationships and drive delivery through influence rather than direct management authority.

Welsh Language level requirements

• Essential: Level A2 - Elementary level

Welsh language levels

Please note, if you do not meet the Welsh language level requirements for this role your application will not be considered.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years’ continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK . Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.

This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.

Please note that while we may be able to support the Certificate of Sponsorship required for a visa application, the organisation does not cover the cost of the visa itself, including any associated fees for dependants.

The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

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.

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English, and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who want to work full-time, part-time, or job share.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the closing date to apply.