Hazardous Waste Regulation Officer in Newtownards

Join the Waste Regulation Team in North West Wales and make a real difference protecting people and the environment. As a Hazardous Waste Officer, you will play a crucial role in ensuring hazardous waste is correctly assessed, classified and managed in line with the Hazardous Waste (Wales) Regulations 2005.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You will provide specialist advice on hazardous waste classification, work directly with a wide range of waste producers, and use your technical expertise to identify and address non‑compliance. From reviewing consignment notes and analysing laboratory data to supporting inspections and regulatory action, your work will help prevent harm and improve standards across the waste sector.

Working closely with colleagues across regulation, permitting and enforcement, you will help deliver a proportionate, intelligence‑led approach to hazardous waste regulation. You will also contribute to developing guidance and sharing insight on emerging risks and trends.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to apply specialist knowledge, build your expertise, and have a tangible impact on environmental protection and public health across Wales. Driving is essential to this role as it requires frequent travel across a wide geographical area to hazardous waste sites, stakeholder meetings, and pollution incidents, many of the locations visited are in remote or rural areas where public transport is limited or unavailable. You must hold a full and current UK driving license.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the place base / location above and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment.

What you will do:

• Assess compliance for non-site based hazardous waste regulation.
• Strategically use waste data to inform interventions/campaigns.
• Deliver and record hazardous waste compliance work.
• Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Participate in the development of team work plans.
• Produce required documentation to support legal action.
• Seek to influence customers and establish local partnerships and collaborations as opportunities arise to deliver SMNR.
• Respond to incidents and complaints.
• 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 (known as Sgwrs).
• 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:

• Knowledge and experience of working as a regulator.
• Understanding of commercial business processes and pressures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public, explaining issues and gaining support by influencing.

Welsh Language level requirements:

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level.

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement, 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%.
• 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'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.