Water Quality Permitting Officer

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental organization in the UK is seeking a Water Quality Permitting Officer to assess permit applications affecting water bodies. The role involves making decisions that enhance environmental protections while supporting sustainable practices. You’ll work in a flexible environment with opportunities for personal and professional development. Ideal candidates should have knowledge of relevant legislation and experience in customer service and permit assessment.

Benefits

Civil Service Pension Scheme

28 days annual leave

Commitment to professional development

Health and wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation relating to permitting.
• Experience in assessing licence/permit applications.
• Ability to provide customer service and influence environmental outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Assess environmental permit applications impacting water quality.
• Determine the outcome of complex licence applications and issue permits.
• Support the development of other permitting officers.

Skills

Knowledge of relevant legislation

Practical experience in assessing licence/permit applications

Coaching and mentoring skills

Customer service delivery

Process improvements

Job description

Team / Directorate: Water Quality Permitting / Evidence, Policy and Permitting

Starting salary: £36,246 rising to £39,942 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: Week commencing 8 September 2025

Post number: 201598 (For office use only: ENV, GRJ, GGL)

The role
Do you want to play a direct role in protecting and improving Wales' rivers, lakes and coastal waters? Join our Water Quality Permitting Team and help tackle pollution while supporting sustainable economic growth.

As a Water Quality Permitting Officer, you'll assess environmental permit applications from water companies, businesses, industry and even householders-making decisions that shape a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for people and nature.

You'll be part of a close-knit team of 8 officers working hybrid as part of NRW's National Permitting Service. Our team is part of the wider Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate, which covers permitting and licensing across Waste, Industry, Marine, Water Resources, Forestry and Species. Based mainly in Cardiff, we support flexible working, with in-person training and meetings to help you build technical skills and connect with your colleagues.

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your expertise while contributing to real-world environmental protection across Wales.

If you're detail-oriented, passionate about the environment, and ready to make a meaningful impact-we'd love to hear from you.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the place base / location above 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 Emma Jones

[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
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) prioritizes improving water quality through its corporate strategy, focusing on collaborative efforts and sustainable solutions to address pollution and ensure a secure water supply for the environment and people. NRW's strategy includes actions like implementing permitting water discharges, improving effluent monitoring, and working with partners to tackle pollution from various sources.

What you will do

• Determine the outcome of complex Environmental licence/permit applications through sound decision making for applications for their assigned regime by carrying out appropriate technical assessment in accordance with NRW policies and procedures where available, and issue, refuse or vary permits to time and budget.
• Determine applications using a range of technical guidance and technical software and/or modelling programmes as required by your assigned regime.
• Aid technical development of permitting officers within your assigned permitting team, through direct coaching and by supporting the delivery of the Technical Development Framework using your expertise in your related area.
• Represent the permitting team in your area of expertise on relevant internal technical groups, and internal/external stakeholder meetings.
• Act as lead for complex permit/licence determinations, including less complex nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Co-ordinate and lead in preparing defence in relation to legal challenges against permit decisions.
• Provide technical support in your subject matter area to operational teams to include pre-application advice and support the delivery of structured training as required.
• Contribute to improved efficiency and performance of the permitting team, identify opportunities for changes to process and guidance and support a culture of continuous improvement for both your assigned regime and for across regime working.
• 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 the relevant legislation and how it relates to the permitting process. Practical experience of assessing relevant licence/permit applications or using them in a compliance role. Track record of delivering timely optimal solutions by effective information analysis and risked based decisions. Experience of coaching and mentoring skills. Experience of customer service delivery and the ability to influence and persuade to achieve environmental outcomes. Experience of delivering process improvements/efficiencies.
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.