Monitoring Strategy and Planning Specialist Advisor

Team / Directorate: Monitoring Strategy and Planning / Evidence, Policy & 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: 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 19 May 2025

Post number: 201275

The role

To provide specialist advice to inform the setting of NRW’s strategic direction for marine monitoring activity, annual marine monitoring programme and associated laboratory analytical programme, and guidance to operational teams on the delivery of marine monitoring work. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across EPP and Operations, officials from Welsh Government, and representatives from partner organisations at Wales and UK levels undertaking marine monitoring work.

You will lead and project manage the identification and implementation of a long-term replacement option for NRWs boat-based coastal and inshore monitoring operations, including those currently delivered through a partnership arrangement with the Environment Agency and external suppliers. The replacement option will need to be fully implemented within 5 years.

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.

sue.byrne@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you will do

• Provide specialist technical advice to inform the setting of NRW’s strategic direction for marine monitoring, ensuring it is fit to support our corporate outcomes and meet statutory obligations.
• Lead and manage the development of NRW’s annual marine monitoring programme and associated laboratory analytical programme working with colleagues across the organisation, and factoring in manpower and financial resource constraints.  
• Interact with and influence a range of 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.
• 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.

1. You will have specialist knowledge and experience in marine monitoring.
2. You will have previous experience of leading and managing projects.
3. 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. 
4. You will have previous experience in developing strategies and operational guidance.
5. 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: 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%
• 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

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion.   We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

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. 

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