Lead Peatland Evidence Specialist

The role
Join us in shaping the future of Wales\’ peatlands as part of Natural Resources Wales\’ (NRW) exciting National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP), funded by the Welsh Government. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in a high-profile, cross-functional team that sits within both NRW\’s Environment, Planning and Place (EPP) and Strategic Projects directorates.
As our peatland evidence lead, you\’ll be at the heart of efforts to protect, sustainably manage, and restore one of Wales\’ most important natural resources. You\’ll ensure our work is driven by the latest science and research – and that, in turn, our projects help shape the growing evidence base for peatland conservation. In this role, you\’ll provide expert technical advice and lead on the development, commissioning, and management of evidence-based projects. You\’ll collaborate with a wide range of partners including universities, research institutions, UK conservation agencies, and Welsh Government officials. Working across NRW\’s teams, you\’ll help embed robust, up-to-date peatland evidence into decision-making at every level. If you\’re passionate about using science to drive real-world environmental impact, this is your chance to make a difference on a national scale.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home 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 take place through Microsoft Teams
What you will do

• Contribute to the ongoing development of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience and NPAP evidence programmes.
• Lead and collaborate with the senior specialist advisor peatlands and others across the organisation on the development and commissioning of work to address NPAP evidence needs.
• Manage NPAPs peatland evidence budget
• Contribute and in some cases lead Welsh Government (WG) evidence commissions relevant to peatlands.
• Provide advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate.
• Lead on developing relationships with external evidence providers.
• Lead and project manage the development of joint projects with external evidence providers
• Ensure liaison with and adherence to NRW evidence team standards etc
• Ensuring technical NPAP outputs are reported appropriately (e.g. publication of Evidence Reports etc)
• Be responsible for interpreting and reporting on environmental data turning it into evidence and then to disseminating complex technical information and data to a range of audiences ranging from technically proficient to non-technical.
• Work closely with other NRW specialists in NPAP, terrestrial ecosystem and species specialists, specialists covering water quality and flood risk evidence, and the Strategic Evidence Group
• Retain ownership and maintain a detailed working knowledge of peatland evidence areas, identifying the implications of legislative, technological advances in evidence for Natural Resources Wales.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• 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 .

Welsh Language Level requirements:

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

Welsh language levels
Please note if you do not meet the level 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

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.
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 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.
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 work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time.

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