Senior Biodiversity Regulatory Approaches Advisor

NATURAL RESOURCES WALES; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector environmental agency in the UK is seeking a candidate to develop regulatory guidance for protected sites. The role involves managing projects, influencing policy, and working closely with stakeholders. Candidates should have experience in environmental legislation and be able to use Welsh, albeit at a basic level. The position offers competitive salary, benefits like a pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Professional development opportunities

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation using the STAR method.
• Form and maintain links with stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Keep up-to-date with regulatory policy changes.

Responsibilities

• Develop regulatory guidance for protected sites.
• Lead projects and manage complex regulatory issues.
• Advise on evidence needs and commission projects.

Skills

Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation

Experience in influencing government departments

Ability to work at pace

Innovative thinking

Job description

Team / Directorate: Land Regulatory Approaches / 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)

Contract type: Fixed Term appointment until 31/03/2027

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: 12/09/2025

Post number: 204030 (For office use only: M, GGL, ENV, GRJ)

The role

Are you ready to shape how we protect and manage some of the most important natural sites in Wales? This is a unique opportunity to take the lead in developing regulatory guidance for protected sites, close critical knowledge gaps, and influence how Natural Resources Wales (NRW) manages its consenting and assenting responsibilities.

During the first year of this role you will develop a 'How we regulate protected sites' position statement, develop and roll out Environmental Damage Regulations (EDR) remediation guidance, and also initiate the development of consent/assent compliance checking approach and pilot.

In the second year the post holder will roll out compliance checking and EDR remediation guidance and work on the development of protected site Management Schemes and Management Notices guidance.

Over the two years you will lead an end to end review of the consenting and assenting process and look at what other options there are for delivery of this regime.

You'll also act as a specialist advisor within NRW, influencing how we approach permitting, compliance and enforcement across a range of regulatory regimes. Your expertise will help guide the development of practical tools and guidance for species licensing, assents, and consents, ensuring our regulatory work is robust, transparent and fit for the future.

This is a meaningful and high-impact role for someone who wants to drive real change in environmental regulation and make a difference to the long-term protection of Wales' natural heritage.

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.

For informal enquiries, please contact Stephen Attwood at
[e-mail]

Interviews will be held on 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.

About us

The Land Regulatory Approaches team sits within the Evidence, Policy and Permitting directorate. The team focuses on guidance development, training and rolling out processes.

What you will do

• Be the principle point of contact with the relevant UK and Welsh Trade Associations, Government Departments and environmental regulators, both UK and European, to share information and work together on the development of operational policy and new legislation, interpretation of relevant legislation, advice and guidance for the specific sector(s) and areas of responsibility.
• 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).
• Support the development and training of staff across NRW by applying technical, legislative and regulatory knowledge and experience.
• Lead and project manage specific and complex issues inc. commissions by RBB) to enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff that enables effective regulatory service provision.
• Contribute to the delivery of the team's business plan, the directorate delivery plan and NRWs corporate plan.
• Support the mentoring and coaching of Advisors within the team to ensure that the team has sufficient technical and legislative resilience for your assigned area of work.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Design monitoring and evaluation frameworks of regulation interventions to inform assessment of the need for improvements in regulation and permitting processes by 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 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.

• Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to your specific sector(s); Welsh, UK government Policy drivers in your specific sector(s).
• Experience in informing and influencing government departments/regulators, preferably on environmental issues.
• Experience in forming and maintaining close links with internal and external partners/stakeholders to deliver the outcomes of both a specific function/project/team and the wider organisation.
• Experience of understanding and applying regulatory activities.
• Be able to work at pace and have a track record of delivery.
• Being innovative and demonstrating drive to achieve targets.
• You will be expected to keep up to date with changing regulatory policy and proposed changes to legislation via membership of a relevant professional body or other equivalent means.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: 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.