Advisor, Abandoned Metal Mines in London

The role involves helping to restore Wales' rivers and tackle one of the nation's biggest environmental challenges. More than 200 abandoned metal mines across Wales continue to release harmful pollutants into the environment, affecting over 700km of rivers. Working with partners including the Mining Remediation Authority, solutions are being developed and delivered to reduce pollution and improve river health.

As a member of the team, you will provide essential technical and administrative support to this high-profile programme. You will help develop the evidence base for decision-making, contribute to environmental monitoring and site investigations, and support the delivery of projects that create measurable environmental improvements. Driving is essential to this role, and work will include field visits to remote sites. A full and current UK driving license is required.

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 upon appointment. Any regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

What you will do:

• Provide technical expertise, advice and guidance for the delivery of the Wales Metal Mines Programme, supporting colleagues, contractors and partners in the interpretation of technical information, regulatory requirements and delivery approaches.
• Support the Metal Mines team to develop the programme of work by assisting colleagues in site identification and problem definition, which may include site inspections, monitoring, and the associated interpreting, assessment and reporting.
• Review complex data and information to provide analysis of how to best achieve environmental outcomes.
• Undertake landowner liaison, compile and serve statutory access notices including creating plans and maps in GIS.
• Advise, influence and build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, providing clear technical guidance to support decision-making and successful programme delivery.
• Procure, commission and supervise contractor-led work packages, monitoring performance, quality, health and safety compliance, programme delivery and expenditure to ensure contractual obligations and project objectives are achieved.
• Arrange meetings, site visits and liaison with external landowners and partners.
• Oversee the procurement and administration of small work packages by contractors to obtain site data.
• Identify all consents and permissions required and apply for/instruct suppliers to obtain these in a timely manner.
• Create, maintain, update and manage project data to include databases, GIS files, project documentation and regular reports.
• Be a champion of safety and environmental practices and promote these in your work.
• Identify and share lessons learned and best practice.
• 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:

• Educated to a minimum of degree level in an environmental discipline such as geoscience, geology, biology, environmental engineering or related technical subject, with some awareness and experience of water quality, freshwater ecology and contaminated land.
• Experience of technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex environmental information and data sources; and analysing large data sets using relevant models and tools.
• Good verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders.
• Experience in the fields of data management, analysis and manipulation using appropriate software, including ArcGIS and Excel.
• UK full driving licence.
• Working towards membership of a relevant professional institution (e.g. Geological Society, MCIWEM) in the future.

Welsh Language level requirements:

Essential: Level A1 - Entry level Welsh language levels. 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.

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. Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Benefits:

• 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.

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 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.