Lead Industry and Waste Regulation Specialist

Team / Directorate: Industry Regulation Team North / Operations

Starting salary: £45,367 rising to £50,877 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Post number: 200420

The role:

As Lead Specialist you will regulate some of the most complex and highest risk industrial installations in the following sectors: chemicals, food and drink, metals, power generation, paper and textiles, cement and minerals, landfill and waste treatment. You may be involved in Control of Major Accidents and Hazards delivery, and regulation of activities that use radioactive substances.

As Lead Specialist you will act as a national expert for one or more of the following complex specialisms: Landfill Gas, Chemicals, Radioactive Substances Regulations, Food and drink, Cement and minerals, Paper and pulp, Combustion.

The post holder will have knowledge and experience of complex industrial processes. Problem solving and dealing with contentious issues and sites, advising on options and collaborative working will be important aspects of the role. You will develop professional working relationships with our operators, provide them with advice and guidance and undertake proportionate enforcement action if required to improve compliance and achieve environmental outcomes.

Mentoring and coaching skills are essential to support colleagues and the successful candidate will work with other specialists to answer technical queries, develop training and development resources, and improve consistency across Wales. You will also be required to respond to environmental incidents and undertake appropriate investigation work.

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.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us:

At NRW we're at the heart of making sure Wales' natural resources are being used sustainably so that future generations can benefit from them. This is an exciting opportunity to join an experienced team who actively protect and enhance the environment and contribute to tackling the Climate emergency. As a Lead Specialist in Industry regulation, you will contribute towards minimising pollution from Wales' Industrial landscape and be at the forefront of tackling the climate emergency to reach Net Zero targets.

What you will do:

• Act as the NRW expert national technical lead for specific sectors or technical issues.
• Act as technical mentor and advisor to team members.
• Participate in the development of team work plans and deliver any agreed actions to contribute to business planning and delivery.
• Work with Operators to develop medium-term regulatory strategies for the installations, including engagement with senior managers and executives within companies, to deliver multiple benefits.
• Routinely lead our response to large or contentious cases/issues and act as an account manager for key stakeholders.
• Contribute to sector working and cross-agency sector groups as required to aid adoption of consistent regulatory approaches and the dissemination of good practices to the benefit of the environment.
• Where appropriate act as NRW lead for specific technical sectors.
• Be required to participate in technical/strategic groups or represent NRW on external forums e.g. UK regulators' sector groups.
• Develop cross-directorate working relationships thereby contributing towards development of any relevant WG industry related policies.
• Work with the Permitting Team to assist the ongoing permit review process in response to BREF updates and publication of BAT Conclusions.
• Interact with other regulatory specialists in NRW to promote consistent regulatory practices.
• Support EPP advisors at operational level.
• Assess compliance at installations, COMAH sites, waste sites and sites handling radioactive substances.
• Respond to incidents and complaints.
• 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:

In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method:

• Professional membership.
• Experience of working across a wide range of relevant industrial sectors.
• Coaching and mentoring skills.
• Experience of managing contentious issues and community liaison and public engagement activities.
• Good understanding of commercial business processes and pressures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.
• Extensive knowledge and experience of regulatory and enforcement processes and incident management.

Welsh language level requirements:

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh). 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.

Benefits:

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• 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.

Please keep reading:

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.