Marine Protected Areas Programme Technical Support

ABJ Supply; Bangor; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A marine conservation organization is seeking a Technical Support Officer to contribute to marine monitoring efforts across Wales. The role involves managing survey data, supporting fieldwork, and ensuring adherence to health and safety standards. Ideal candidates should possess professional diving qualifications and experience with environmental data. Flexible working arrangements available. This position offers a fixed-term contract until September 2026.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave, rising to 33

Commitment to professional development

Health and wellbeing benefits

Weekly wellbeing hour

Qualifications

• Experience of managing a range of environmental data.
• Experience in interpreting environmental data is desirable.
• Professional diving qualifications at required levels.
• IT competencies in MS Office and database use.

Responsibilities

• Support marine surveys: diving, boat-based, intertidal.
• Manage and analyse survey data.
• Maintain records related to operational equipment.
• Contribute to health, safety, and well-being culture.

Skills

Environmental data management

Marine survey techniques

Self-management and organisational skills

Teamwork

Marine species identification

GIS proficiency

Driver's license

IT competencies; MS Office and databases

Education

Professional diving qualifications (ISO 24801-3 / EN 14153-3)

Job description

Overview

The role

Are you passionate about protecting Wales' marine environment? Join our Marine Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Team as a Technical Support Officer, where you'll play a key role in safeguarding our seas through the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Programme. This role is offered on a fixed-term basis, concluding on 25 September 2026.

This is a hands-on, varied role supporting the delivery of boat-based, intertidal, and diving surveys across Wales' stunning coastal and marine habitats. You'll help manage and maintain essential survey equipment, handle marine data—from entry and formatting to quality assurance—and support the analysis and reporting that informs our conservation efforts.

You'll be part of a dedicated team working to meet our statutory duties under the Habitats and Species Regulations (2017), helping to ensure Wales' marine biodiversity is protected for future generations. Whether you're downloading data from underwater loggers or coordinating equipment servicing, your contribution will be vital to the success of our monitoring programme.

If you're organised, enthusiastic, and ready to dive into marine conservation, we'd love to hear from you.

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.

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.

What You Will Do

• Work as part of a marine monitoring, assessment and reporting team to help deliver NRW's MPA Programme.
• Support the delivery of fieldwork related to the MPA programme including diving, boat-based and intertidal surveys.
• Support the management of marine data by downloading data from loggers and other capture devices, storage, backup and quality assurance of survey data, contributing to data analysis where appropriate and taking responsibility for some aspects of data management.
• Support records management, maintaining records associated with training, operational equipment and personal protective equipment, leading on some areas of this where appropriate.
• Undertake collation, input and analysis of monitoring data where required.
• Support responses to data requests.
• Contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture.
• 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.

• Experience of managing a range of environmental data and information.
• Experience in interpreting a broad range of environmental data is desirable.
• Experience of marine survey techniques.
• Experience of supporting marine survey planning.
• Professional diving qualifications to the level of ISO 24801-3 or EN 14153-3, such as BSAC Dive Leader, PADI Divemaster or HSE Part IV or PSD.
• Marine species identification (ID) skills desirable.
• Knowledge of using GIS to display and interpret spatial datasets is desirable.
• Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.
• Ability to work well as part of a team.
• A current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles (cars and vans).
• IT competencies; MS Office and database experience

Welsh Language Level Requirements

• Desirable: 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.

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