Marine Licensing Lead Specialist in Caernarfon

The role involves being one of the most senior members of NRW's Marine Licensing Team, responsible for assessing complex and high-profile marine licence applications. You will carry out detailed technical assessments, consult with experts, and ensure decisions are robust, defensible, and well-documented. You may also act as an expert witness in public inquiries, supporting evidence-based, transparent regulation.

This is a busy, desk-based role where you will manage multiple cases simultaneously, balancing deadlines, problem-solving, and applying risk-based decision making under tight statutory timescales. You will also play a key role in mentoring and supporting the wider team, helping to maintain high technical standards in marine permitting.

As an organisation, we support flexible working. You will be contracted to one of the NRW offices at the above locations, 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: As the principal environmental regulator for Wales, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays a critical role in protecting, maintaining, and enhancing our natural resources, helping ensure a healthy environment for people and wildlife, now and in the future. Our Permitting Service is central to this mission. By robustly assessing applications for a wide range of regulated activities, we reduce environmental risks, support sustainable economic growth, and promote responsible behaviour across Wales.

Your role will sit within the Marine Licensing Team, where you will help regulate some of the most complex and environmentally significant activities taking place in Welsh waters.

What you will do:

• Determine applications for Environmental Licences from marine sites of high public and/or political interest, managing effective communication with all interested parties, including government and national stakeholder groups.
• Analyse highly complex data and information to inform and assist policy and legal colleagues within your area of expertise.
• Build effective working relationships with key individuals within NRW and other UK Competent Authorities to ensure that the value of Permitting to our regulatory role is maximised.
• Take responsibility to ensure that the work of the Permitting Team is clearly documented and that decisions taken on permit applications are transparent and consistent.
• Ensure that the Marine Permitting Team delivers appropriate decisions on licence applications within the statutory timelines by monitoring progress against targets, identifying risks to delivery and managing those risks.
• Lead or support the Permitting Service technical leads group to ensure consistent ways of working and that we have the correct tools and processes in place to identify skill gaps and develop our people.
• Specifically lead on the development of the technical development framework and the mentoring and coaching of Marine Permitting Officers.
• 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.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills:

• Experience of managing the assessment of highly complex, politically sensitive marine licence applications.
• Education to degree level or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
• An in-depth understanding of the relevant legislation and how it relates to the Marine Licensing process.
• Track record of delivering timely optimal solutions by effective information analysis and risk-based decisions.
• Substantial working knowledge of the technologies used and the environmental protection methodologies relevant to the Marine Permitting regime.
• Advanced and specialist understanding of specific legislation and associated Directives.
• Proven coaching and mentoring skills.
• Strong customer focused approach to delivery.
• Experience of using GIS Mapping Programmes.
• Effective planning and organisation skills.
• Effective communication skills.
• You will be expected to keep up to date with changing regulatory policy and proposed changes to legislation.

Welsh Language level requirements:

Essential: Level A2 - Elementary level.

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. This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route.

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.