Graduate Placement, Flood Risk Management

This is an exciting 12-month graduate placement opportunity for individuals who have recently completed (within the last 18 months) a degree in a relevant discipline, such as Engineering, Environmental Science, Environmental Management, Geography, or a related environmental or sustainability-focused subject. Working within the Asset Performance (South West Wales) team, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of a range of flood risk asset performance programmes. Your work will contribute to the management and maintenance of flood risk infrastructure across Wales, helping to ensure assets are effectively monitored, maintained and recorded.

Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting topographical surveys
• Assisting with statutory reservoir inspections
• Maintaining records within the National Flood Risk Asset Management System (NFRAMS)
• Updating AMX and other associated flood risk management data systems
• Contributing to a variety of asset performance activities

As part of the placement, you will gain valuable insight into how Natural Resources Wales manages its flood risk management infrastructure. You will have the opportunity to develop technical knowledge and practical experience while learning how evidence-based decision making is used to prioritise investment and manage assets to deliver the greatest benefit for communities and the environment. The role also offers the opportunity to spend time with other Flood Risk Management teams, providing a broader understanding of the organisation and the range of activities involved in managing flood risk across Wales. Through this experience, you will learn how different teams work together to develop and deliver solutions that help reduce the impact of flooding on Welsh communities.

This placement is hosted within the Asset Performance South West Team and provides an excellent opportunity for a recent graduate to develop professional skills, gain practical experience and build a strong foundation for a future career in flood risk management, environmental management or engineering. Driving is essential to this role as the job will entail travelling to the office as well as frequent site visits to remote locations where public transport is not frequent or reliable, therefore, you must hold a full and current UK driving licence.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

About Us: At Natural Resources Wales, we work to protect and enhance Wales' environment, natural resources and communities for current and future generations. Flood Risk Management plays a vital role in helping communities become more resilient to flooding by managing and maintaining flood risk assets, using evidence to inform investment decisions, and working collaboratively with partners across Wales. As part of our team, you will contribute to meaningful work that helps safeguard people, property and the environment, while gaining valuable experience within a supportive and inclusive organisation committed to developing the next generation of environmental professionals.

What You Will Do:

• Support delivery of work plans, created by the team, which contributes towards the delivery of business plans.
• Assist with topographical survey work and data collection.
• Maintain records and information in line with regulations/legislation and agreed standards.
• Participate in team meetings.
• Participate in external meetings with other members of the team.
• Interact with peers in other NRW teams.
• Contribute towards the team’s delegated responsibility for delivery of work programmes.
• Other work as directed by the line manager.
• Manage health and safety issues on a day-to-day basis and contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture.
• 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:

• A graduate qualification in an engineering or environmental and sustainability related discipline from a higher education institution.
• Good understanding of engineering and flood risk asset management principles.
• Good written and verbal skills and the ability to communicate confidently, with excellent customer service skills.
• Good inter-personal skills with the ability to work under pressure using your own initiative in order to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong ICT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Welsh Language level requirements:

• Essential: Level A1 – Entry level

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.

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% (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

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 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.