Operational & Technical Support Officer

Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales is seeking an Operational and Technical Support Officer to help run environmental monitoring programmes and incident response. You will work with NRW Analytical Services and field teams to provide technical, logistical and operational support.

The role focuses on maintaining QMS compliance, data quality and efficient sample processing, with duties including laboratory support, data entry, and coordination of sample dispatch across Wales.

Qualifications

• Achieved A Level qualifications, or you will have the equivalent level of knowledge.
• Previous experience in an administration, technical or logistical support of a local area network, ideally.

Responsibilities

• Conduct the daily sample registration, accurately registering samples, collating and inputting monitoring data from various sources utilising the Laboratory Information Management System.
• Support data administration within the Analytical Service and provide associated support services to laboratory staff and other NRW staff that routinely use LIMS.
• General housekeeping, including reception duty, monitoring and management of mailboxes and entering of analytical results from third party laboratories accurately.
• Support reporting of results and data transfers within agreed SLA standards of service.
• Maintain due diligence of the correct processes to maintain legal chain of custody for enforcement samples and to uphold the laboratory's ISO17025 Accreditation from UKAS.
• Manage document storage requirements to ensure compliance with the laboratory's QMS and current legislation.
• Organise and dispatch samples collected from the Monitoring Programme to be outsourced to third-party laboratories for analysis.
• Manage container and consumable order requests for all sampling teams, processing and delivering orders within agreed timescales as well as preparing sample containers for re-use, ensuring they are free from contamination using specialised equipment.
• Perform physically demanding, and repetitive lifting and carrying duties.
• 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.

Education

A Level qualifications

Tools

LIMS

Job description

The role

We are looking for a proactive and organised Operational and Technical Support Officer to play a key role in supporting Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) environmental monitoring programmes and incident response activities.

The role

We are looking for a proactive and organised Operational and Technical Support Officer to play a key role in supporting Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) environmental monitoring programmes and incident response activities.
Working closely with NRW Analytical Services and field sampling teams, you will provide technical, logistical and operational support to ensure the effective delivery of monitoring and enforcement work. You will help maintain compliance with Quality Management Systems, legal Chain of Custody requirements and Health and Safety standards, ensuring environmental samples and data are managed accurately and efficiently.
The role includes supporting laboratory operations, coordinating sample processing and dispatch, managing analytical information, assisting with enforcement investigations and contributing to the ongoing development and maintenance of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS).
Your work will help ensure the integrity, traceability and quality of environmental data that supports regulatory reporting, pollution prevention and environmental protection across Wales. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working in a varied, detail-focused role and wants to make a tangible contribution to safeguarding the environment.
37 hours a week starting at 7am each day. (The pattern is usually Monday to Friday starting at 7am each day with the possibility of Saturday working as overtime.)
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.

About Us

NRW is the largest Welsh Government Sponsored Body, working to protect, improve and sustainably manage Wales' natural resources for the benefit of both current and future generations.

NRW Analytical Services (NRWAS) is a UKAS-accredited laboratory based at Swansea University's Singleton Campus, operating to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards. The team provides vital analytical support for NRW's environmental monitoring programmes, helping to deliver evidence-based decisions that protect Wales' rivers, lakes, coastal waters and wider natural environment.

As the central hub for environmental monitoring and evidential samples, NRWAS receives and processes hundreds of samples each week to support both routine monitoring and incident investigations. The team also coordinates sample dispatch to specialist laboratories, supplies sampling equipment and provides technical support to colleagues across NRW.

Joining NRWAS means becoming part of a supportive and professional team that plays an important role in ensuring the quality and reliability of environmental data. Together, we help provide the evidence needed to safeguard Wales' natural resources and respond effectively to environmental risks and pollution incidents.

What You Will Do

• Conduct the daily sample registration, accurately registering samples, collating and inputting monitoring data from various sources utilising the Laboratory Information Management System.
• Support data administration within the Analytical Service and provide associated support services to laboratory staff and other NRW staff that routinely use LIMS.
• General housekeeping, including reception duty, monitoring and management of mailboxes and entering of analytical results from third party laboratories accurately.
• Support reporting of results and data transfers within agreed SLA standards of service utilising several different systems.
• Maintain due diligence of the correct processes to maintain legal chain of custody for enforcement samples and to uphold the laboratory's ISO17025 Accreditation from UKAS.
• Manage document storage requirements to ensure compliance with the laboratory's QMS and current legislation.
• Organise and dispatch samples collected from the Monitoring Programme to be outsourced to third-party laboratories for analysis.
• Manage container and consumable order requests for all sampling teams, processing and delivering orders within agreed timescales as well as preparing sample containers for re-use, ensuring they are free from contamination using specialised equipment.
• Perform physically demanding, and repetitive lifting and carrying duties.
• 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.

• Achieved A Level qualifications, or you will have the equivalent level of knowledge.
• Previous experience in an administration, technical or logistical support of a local area network, ideally