Specialist Advisor - New and Innovative Approaches - Terrestrial Monitoring

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

Job summary

An environmental conservation agency in the United Kingdom is seeking a skilled professional to lead innovative approaches in terrestrial monitoring. This role involves collaboration with various teams to enhance data collection strategies. With a competitive salary and benefits including a civil service pension and flexible working options, this is a unique opportunity to impact biodiversity initiatives in Wales.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Health and wellbeing support

Professional development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Specialist knowledge in areas like earth observation, ecosystem resilience, or AI.
• Previous project management experience.
• Ability to communicate technical aspects effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical advice for strategic direction.
• Lead bilateral development of monitoring programmes.
• Influence Welsh Government officials on strategic projects.

Skills

Terrestrial monitoring expertise

Project leadership

Strong communication skills

Strategic guidance development

Relationship building

Job description

Team / Directorate: Monitoring Strategy and Planning / 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: 28 August 2025 - 4 September 2025

Post number: 203997 (For office use only: M, GGL, ENV, GRJ)

The role

Are you passionate about cutting-edge environmental monitoring? This exciting role will drive the adoption of innovative approaches in terrestrial monitoring at Natural Resources Wales, including earth observation, ecosystem resilience, bioacoustics, Artificial Intelligence, and assessing management effectiveness. You'll collaborate closely with our Lead Specialist Advisor and hands-on field teams to shape how we gather and use data to protect Wales's natural landscapes. Your work will play a key role in delivering the Welsh Government's Biodiversity Deep Dive recommendations and helping Wales meet ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework targets. Join us and be at the forefront of pioneering conservation science!

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.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Sue Byrne [e-mail]

Interviews will take place via 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 post is part of a national team covering terrestrial, freshwater and marine monitoring. We develop plans and strategies for NRW's monitoring work to ensure that we make effective use of our monitoring resources to provide the evidence needed to address the nature, climate and pollution emergencies.

What you will do

• Provide specialist technical advice to inform the setting of NRW's strategic direction for NRW's terrestrial monitoring, ensuring it is fit to support our corporate outcomes and meet statutory obligations.
• Lead and manage the development of NRW's innovation related terrestrial monitoring programmes working with colleagues across the organisation, and factoring in manpower and financial resource constraints.
• Interact with and influence a range of Welsh Government officials and partner organisations working on strategic and operational monitoring projects at Wales and UK levels.
• Take a lead role in developing of new and innovative methods and approaches to drive improved performance and efficiency in NRW's monitoring service.
• You will lead the transition from concept to adoption of new procedures, approaches and innovation products.
• Participate in, and chair as appropriate, groups established to ensure the effective governance of monitoring within NRW.
• Mentor less experienced colleagues in your team.
• 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.

• You will have specialist knowledge and experience in terrestrial monitoring or an innovation or development area relevant to terrestrial monitoring, for example earth observation, ecosystem resilience, bioacoustics, AI, evaluation of management effectiveness.
• You will have previous experience of leading and managing projects.
• You will be a confident communicator with the ability to present both technical and strategic aspects of monitoring to internal and external audiences in a concise and effective way.
• You will have previous experience in developing strategies and operational guidance.
• You will have a proven ability to build effective relationships, and experience of working with government departments, the third sector and regulators.

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 a 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.