Senior Waste Regulation Officer – Once in Operations

Natural Resources Wales; Wales; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental regulatory body in Wales seeks a Senior Officer to lead on Producer Responsibility regulations, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. The role necessitates technical mentoring, effective communication skills, and experience in waste regulation. The position supports flexible working arrangements and offers various employee benefits including generous annual leave and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days

Generous leave entitlements

Commitment to professional development

Health and wellbeing benefits

Weekly wellbeing hour

Qualifications

• Experience in waste industry or as a regulator.
• Ability to influence and communicate with the public.
• Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity.

Responsibilities

• Lead compliance checks with waste regulations.
• Act as technical mentor to team members.
• Co-ordinate technical development for team.

Skills

Knowledge of waste regulations

Effective communication

Technical mentoring

Understanding of commercial business processes

Driving license

Job description

As a Senior Officer within the 'Once in Ops Waste Regulation team', you will be responsible for leading on Producer Responsibility regulations covering packaging, waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and batteries. These regulations ensure businesses that manufacture, import and sell these products are responsible for their end-of-life environmental impact, helping us move towards a more circular and sustainable economy. You will have expert knowledge of Producer Responsibility regulations gained through experience of delivering non-site based waste regulation. You will be required to lead on assessing compliance, taking enforcement action, and dealing with complex queries from both internal and external customers. You will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, support proportionate action and achieve tangible multiple benefits from our regulatory interventions. This will include site visits, providing advice and guidance, undertaking investigations, data analysis and auditing. Additionally, you will liaise with colleagues in our Evidence, Policy and Permitting department, other UK Regulators, Industry and DEFRA to influence policy and key decisions. 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., We have statutory duties to regulate compliance with waste regulations which includes extended producer responsibility including;

We support delivery of Welsh Government's programme of legislative waste reforms as set out in the Beyond Recycling and Net Zero strategies. This role is within the 'Once in Ops Waste Regulation team', a dispersed national team that carries out a range of non-site based regulation activities including International Waste Shipments, Extended Producer Responsibility, Hazardous Waste, Local Authority Recycling Targets and any future regimes that may fall under the duties of our Once for Wales teams.

What you will do

• Act as technical mentor and advisor to team members.
• Provide expert guidance in relation to compliance with environmental and regulatory standards.
• Take appropriate actions for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Identify and implement new ways of working to improve efficiency of outcome delivery.
• Identify opportunities for partnership working with both internal and external parties.
• Develop work plans for team members that reflect wider priorities. (e.g. Waste Steer)
• Co-ordinate the technical development of team members.
• 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.

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method.

1. Knowledge and experience of either working in the waste industry or as a regulator.
2. Good understanding of commercial business processes and pressures.
3. Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public, explaining issues and gaining support by influencing.
4. A full and valid UK driving license.

As the principal environmental regulator for Wales, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays a critical role in protecting, maintaining, and enhancing our natural resources - helping ensure a healthy environment for people and wildlife, now and in the future.

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.

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