Specialist Advisor Hydrogeology

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regulatory body in environmental management seeks a Hydrogeologist to join their Geoscience Team. You will provide expert advice on groundwater protection and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure sustainable infrastructure projects in Wales. The role involves preparing technical assessments and managing policy developments. A commitment to professional growth is supported, with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Health and wellbeing benefits

Commitment to professional development

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to Hydrogeology and Water Resources.
• Experience in technical analysis and interpretation of complex environmental information.
• Working with stakeholders involved in Hydrogeology in Wales.

Responsibilities

• Prepare technical assessments based on complex data.
• Manage development of policy and guidance documents.
• Liaise with stakeholders for timely delivery of projects.

Skills

Knowledge of Hydrogeology legislation

Technical analysis of environmental data

Project and programme management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Membership in relevant professional institution

Job description

Team / Directorate: Geoscience, Operations

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: Permanent

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: 26/09/2025

Post number: 204017

The role
The Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 (the Act) modernises and simplifies the process for developing significant infrastructure projects in Wales by establishing a single infrastructure consenting process for specified types of major infrastructure projects. This will speed up the consenting process for major projects on land and in the territorial sea, creating more consistency and certainty in Wales' ability to deliver infrastructure projects in the future. NRW has a major role to play both as a statutory consultee and as the regulator for a range of consents that may be deemed or disapplied through the process.

We're looking for a passionate and skilled Hydrogeologist to join our dynamic Geoscience Team at Natural Resources Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in shaping Wales' future through the delivery of major infrastructure projects-on land and at sea.

In this role, you'll be a trusted advisor on hydrogeology, supporting major infrastructure developments from the earliest planning stages through to regulatory approval. You'll provide expert technical input on groundwater protection, resource management, and contamination assessments. From pre-application advice to permit reviews and groundwater abstraction assessments, your work will help ensure environmental sustainability across some of Wales' most significant projects.

You'll collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders-including government, developers, and consultants-ensuring that infrastructure projects meet environmental standards and align with our strategic goals. Beyond casework, you'll also contribute to developing guidance, operational tools, and policy for hydrogeological regulation across Wales.
This is more than a technical post-it's your chance to help define how we manage and protect one of our most vital resources for generations to come.

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.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Trystan James at [e-mail].

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

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data;
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, advice and guidance documents; Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme;
• Support engagement with sectors and partners, WG, Water Users, Local Authorities, industry and those dependent on groundwater in Wales and the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain knowledge of Hydrogeological Science identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the related sectors.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required;
• 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 .

1. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to Hydrogeology and Water Resources; Welsh, UK and Welsh Government policy drivers in Hydrogeology; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders and industries involved with Hydrogeology in Wales;
3. Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex environmental information and data sources; analysing large data sets
4. Working with/in WG, water companies, local authorities, Sector & industries dependent on Groundwater, eNGOs, NRW Operations;
5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
6. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
7. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required;

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.