Lead International Protected Sites Specialist
Closing Date: 10 August 2025 | Salary: Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877 | Location: Flexible
Natural Resources Wales reserves the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date
Team / Directorate: Biodiversity Policy and Strategy / Evidence, Policy and Permitting
Starting salary: £45,367 rising to £50,877 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)
Contract type: Permenant
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: 2 September 2025 - 3 September 2025
Post number: 203999
The role
Are you ready to lead the charge in safeguarding some of Wales’ most valuable natural places? As our Lead Specialist Advisor for internationally recognised protected sites, you will be at the forefront of delivering the ambitious global and UK goal to protect and effectively manage 30% of land, freshwater, and marine areas by 2030.
In this influential role, you’ll turn complex international policies and legislation into practical, impactful actions within Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Your expertise will guide the management of Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Ramsar Sites, and other key conservation measures—helping ensure nature thrives across Wales.
You’ll collaborate with a passionate and diverse team of experts across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine environments, working alongside operational staff, government officials, and sector leaders. Your deep understanding of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, Bern Convention, and Ramsar Convention will be vital as you develop clear, effective advice and champion innovative approaches to protect our natural heritage.
If you’re excited by the opportunity to shape the future of Wales’ protected sites and make a tangible impact for nature and communities, this is the role for you.
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 Neil Parker Neil.Parker@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 post holder will join the Biodiversity Policy and Strategy team within the newly formed Integrated Approaches for Nature, Climate and People Group. Our Group is dedicated to driving forward NRW’s Corporate Plan vision of nature and people thriving together by embedding environmental planning that integrates nature, climate, and community priorities.
What you will do
- Lead and project manage specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes in relation to terrestrial, freshwater and marine international protected sites including but not limited to Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas and Ramsar Sites
- 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 and strategies.
- Retain ownership and oversight of Biodiversity policy area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, Central Government and Global Policy intent.
- Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
- 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 Biodiversity.
- Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development 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.
- Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to protected sites. Welsh & UK Governments & EU policy drivers in biodiversity; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders involved in protected sites in Wales.
- Experience of: In-depth understanding of the biodiversity and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
- Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
- You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
- Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
- 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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