Water Quality and Waste Licensing in Cardiff

The role involves gaining valuable practical experience within either the Water Quality Licensing Team or the Waste Licensing Team, helping to assess applications for environmental licenses and supporting work to protect the environment across Wales. You will develop technical and professional skills, make evidence-based decisions, and work closely with colleagues, customers, and partners to deliver an efficient licensing service. With support from experienced professionals, you will increase your knowledge of environmental regulation while contributing to meaningful work that makes a real difference.

This is an excellent opportunity for motivated graduates to start a fulfilling career in the environmental sector, including hybrid work and opportunities to learn, grow, and develop within a supportive team. As an organisation, we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW location specified in this advertisement and will be required to attend regular meetings, training, and one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.

To make an informal inquiry about this role, please contact Katrin Raynor at Katrin.Raynor@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. Interviews will be conducted on Microsoft Teams.

About us: Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the largest of the Welsh Government Sponsored Bodies, with a diverse workforce dedicated to protecting and improving Wales' natural resources. We work to ensure that the environment, natural beauty, and natural resources of Wales are maintained and improved and used sustainably for the benefit of people, communities, and future generations. Our Licensing Service plays a key role in achieving this purpose by assessing and regulating activities that may affect the environment. Through effective licensing and regulation, we help protect Wales' air, land, and water, supporting sustainable development and economic growth.

What you will do:

• Determine the outcome of applications for environmental licenses by making firm decisions regarding applications received by the Water Quality and/or Waste team, by carrying out assessments in accordance with NRW policies and procedures where available, and granting, refusing, or varying licenses in accordance with time and budget requirements.
• Support and collaborate with the licensing service to ensure the efficiency of the process and the consistency of the approach.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with customers (internal and external) to ensure a good understanding of licenses that are fit for purpose, and efficient arrangements to provide those licenses, and transition to compliance activities.
• Produce appropriate records of decisions, actions, and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• Manage day-to-day health and safety issues and contribute to a positive culture of health, safety, and well-being.
• Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the position.
• A commitment to the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy of Natural Resources Wales, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the position.
• Being committed to your own development and making effective use of your personal development plan (known as the Conversation).
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge, and skills:

• A degree in a discipline related to the environment and sustainability from a higher education institution.
• Good written and verbal skills and the ability to communicate confidently, with excellent customer service skills.
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to work under pressure working spontaneously to meet tight deadlines.
• Strong ICT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge and understanding of Environmental Legislation and how it relates to the licensing process.

Welsh language requirements:

• Essential: A1 - Entry level

Note: If you do not meet the A1 requirements, i.e., the ability to understand basic sentences and pronounce Welsh names correctly, NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these basic requirements during your employment with us.

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

Benefits: This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• The Civil Service Pension scheme which offers 28.97% employer contributions (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme).
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days.
• Generous absences for all your needs in life.
• Commitment to professional development.
• Health and wellbeing benefits and support.
• Weekly wellness hour that you can choose when to use.

We are passionate about creating a creative and diverse workforce and encourage applications from underrepresented communities. We operate a policy of equal opportunities regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for applicants with disabilities who meet the required criteria.

We wish to attract and retain talented and skilled staff, so we ensure that our pay scales remain competitive. Salary scales are indicated on job descriptions when advertising. The people appointed start at the first point of the scale, with a step-by-step increase each year.

We want our staff to develop professionally and personally. From developing their leadership skills to accessing further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge in a variety of subjects, maintain their knowledge of the latest developments in their field, and continue to learn as their career develops. We are a bilingual organization that complies with Welsh Language Standards and is committed to equal opportunities. Welsh skills are considered an asset to the organisation, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop, and use their Welsh skills in the workplace. You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who want to work full-time, part-time, or share the job.