Senior Environment Officer in Welshpool

The role involves delivering targeted, evidence-led action to improve water quality across the River Wye catchment in Mid Wales. This high-impact role contributes directly to NRW’s statutory duties under the Water Framework Directive, Habitats Regulations and the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021. This is a fixed-term appointment until 31/03/27, with the possibility of permanency.

As a local specialist, you will lead interventions to reduce nutrient enrichment, focusing on diffuse agricultural pollution, while supporting work on urban and industrial pressures affecting water quality. You will help protect designated sites within the Wye system and improve the catchment’s ecological condition. Working closely with the CoAPR Team, you will provide technical expertise, coordinate targeted compliance activity and undertake CoAPR inspections where required. You will support Environment Officers to address non-agricultural pollution, ensuring a joined-up approach to managing risks to sensitive habitats. You will develop and guide sub-catchment action plans, prioritise interventions using risk-based evidence, and lead compliance and enforcement activity.

The role includes mentoring colleagues, representing NRW with farmers, land managers and partners, supporting partnership working, and playing a senior role in NRW’s incident management service. This role offers a unique opportunity to help shape recovery of one of Wales’s most environmentally significant river systems. Driving is essential as you will need to travel independently to farms in rural areas where there are no public transport routes and the work cannot be undertaken remotely. 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: We are a committed and collaborative team, working together to protect and enhance our natural environment. Our work is varied, purposeful and driven by a shared sense of responsibility to the communities and landscapes we serve. You will be joining a fast-paced operational team that delivers a diverse range of environmental services across Mid Wales. Alongside regulating permits, we manage protected sites and designated bathing waters, respond to environmental incidents, and provide practical local advice and guidance to colleagues and partners. This is a role for someone who thrives on teamwork, enjoys variety, and is motivated by making a positive and visible impact on the environment.

What you will do:

• Represent NRW in discussions with partner organisations.
• Act as technical mentor and advisor to team members.
• Assist Team Leader in the planning and delivery of compliance programme and enforcement.
• Collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Determine and implement appropriate intervention options for non-compliance.
• Co-ordinate the technical development of team members.
• Identify opportunities for new Management Agreements and Partnership Projects.
• Support a resilient and competent NRW Incident Management Service.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post.
• Commit to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy.
• Participate in incident response activities.
• Perform any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills:

• Experience of project development and management (Desirable).
• Overall understanding of the sustainable management of natural resources, with focused expertise in a distinct area of the Environment Team remit.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders and the public.
• Good knowledge and experience of regulatory and enforcement processes.
• Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles.

Welsh Language level requirements: Essential: Level A1 – Entry level. 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 your employment.

Additional Information: Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

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.

Equal opportunities: 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 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 ensure 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, providing opportunities for leadership development and access to further education courses.

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.