Development Planning Advisor in Cardiff

The role involves a background in environmental science, sustainability or planning to help shape the future of Wales. We are looking for passionate people to join our Development Planning Advice Service, which is responsible for influencing both strategic land use plans and projects seeking planning consent. The work is varied, rewarding, and provides the real opportunity to influence sustainable development in Wales.

As a member of our 'once for Wales' development planning Service, you will engage directly with Planning Authorities and developers on a wide variety of proposals including energy, transport, housing, economic regeneration, tourism and agriculture. You will collaborate with technical experts across NRW to create and provide accurate, robust and influential advice on topics including conservation sites, European Protected Species, flood risk, water quality, air quality, contaminated land, and landscape.

We're looking for a collaborative individual with strong organisation and communication skills and a keen interest in environmental protection and planning. This role offers professional development in the environmental and planning sector, contributing to improving the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. As an organisation, we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office in Cardiff and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Gemma Beynon at Gemma.Beynon@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.

Our Development Planning Advice Service provides expert and influential environmental advice to Planning Authorities and Welsh Government to support their decision making. The Service supports the delivery of sustainable development by working closely and proactively with our partners and customers to help direct development to the most appropriate locations.

What You Will Do

• Produce Advice to Local Development Plans, including advice on their Strategic Environmental Assessment, ensuring the advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Produce Advice to pre‑application enquiries, development management consultations, Development of National Significance and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, ensuring NRW advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Preparation of information in relation to challenges against NRW development planning advice, including attendance at Appeals and Inquiries.
• Development of effective customer relationships (internal and external) and ensuring a good understanding of customer needs.
• Identify opportunities to influence local Development projects and plans at the earliest opportunity.
• Maintain auditable records of actions and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy.
• Be committed to your own development through the effective use of your personal development plan.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

• Experience in development planning processes and working with the development sector.
• Experience of applying and reviewing environmental impact assessments.
• Able to communicate effectively with Local Planning Authorities, business and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.
• Strong and effective self‑management and organisational skills.
• Able to analyse complex information and situations, solve problems and make sound judgements.
• Able to work well as part of a team and lead virtual task groups.

Welsh Language level requirements

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level. Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement, 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.

Additional Information

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. Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Benefits

• 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.

We are 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.