Senior Land and Nature Specialist

Closing Date: 10 August 2025 | Salary: Grade 8: £52,268 - £57,726 | Location: Flexible

 

Natural Resources Wales reserves the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date

Team / Directorate: Land and Nature Group / Evidence, Policy and Permitting

Starting salary:  £52,268 rising to £57,726 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 18 August 2025

Post number: 203818

The role

We’re seeking a strategic thinker to play a key role in our new Land and Nature Group. Reporting to the Land and Nature Manager, you’ll drive the development and delivery of the Land and Nature Programme, support cross-group initiatives, and manage the business group’s risk register. 

As the technical lead in your area of specialism, you’ll provide expert advice to Welsh and UK Governments, lead NRW technical governance groups, and influence environmental policy and legislation. We are looking for an individual with an expert knowledge of Land and Nature with a focus on one or more of the following subject areas: forestry, agriculture and land management activities, terrestrial species and terrestrial ecology. Your expertise will directly influence legislative developments, inform government policy, and shape external stakeholder agendas. Crucially, you’ll also help turn complex legislation, policy, and strategy into practical, on-the-ground solutions that support sustainable, responsible land and nature management across Wales. 

This is an exciting opportunity to make a lasting impact on Wales’ environmental policies and the management of its natural resources. 

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 Michelle Griffiths

michelle.griffiths@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

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 Land and Nature Group is part of the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Policy Department within the Evidence, Policy, and Permitting Directorate. This department is responsible for defining and owning the environmental and societal outcomes across ecosystems — including land, water, marine, and cross-cutting areas — to help realise NRW’s Corporate Plan vision of nature and people thriving together. 

Our team drives this vision by leading integrated environmental planning, prioritising resources where they can have the greatest impact. We work closely with other NRW departments, delivery services, Welsh Government, and partner organisations to provide expert advice and support effective environmental outcomes across Wales. 

What you will do

  • Lead and manage the review of complex data and information to identify gaps and barriers to achieving environmental outcomes.
  • Develop policies, Strategies, Plans and Programmes for a wide portfolio of disciplines related to Land and Nature Management, including requirement of Welsh legislation, and drive collaboration and integration with other relevant areas of policy, strategy, plans, programmes, funding mechanisms and development planning.
  • Provide advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans, strategies, and funding mechanisms including rural investment through agriculture and forestry and green investment initiatives.
  • Retain ownership and oversight of Land Use and Nature Management policy area (a) to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government and Central Government and (b) through a programme and service led approach in NRW that supports operational delivery of policies and programmes.
  • Review and strategic oversight of evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage complex evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
  • Lead on and contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
  • Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to Sustainable Land and Nature Management
  • Collaborate with the Team Leader/Manager to develop and deliver an agreed Sgwrs plan.
  • 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 Sustainable Land Use and Nature Management; Welsh & UK Governments & EU policy drivers related to Sustainable Land Use Management, and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
  2. In-depth understanding of the Land and Nature Management discipline/topic and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
  3. Knowledge and practical understanding of how to overcome the complex priorities, drivers and barriers faced by NRW, partners and stakeholders involved in delivering Sustainable Land Use and Nature Management outcomes in Wales. 
  4. Experience of: Working at a national, UK and international level managing a portfolio of work programmes related to Land and Nature Management.
  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. Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
  8. 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. 

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