Environment Officer (Conservation) in Penparcau

The role involves helping to deliver Wales's contribution to the global goal of conserving 30% of land, freshwater and marine environments by 2030. Working as part of NRW's support for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), you will help create practical management plans for designated sites and work directly with farmers to identify actions that benefit habitats, species, and the wider environment.

We are recruiting Environment Officers across Mid West, Mid East, and South West Wales, on fixed-term appointments until 31/03/2027, with the possibility of permanency. These roles will be based out of our Aberystwyth, Welshpool, and Cross Hands sites.

You will provide technical expertise in protected site management, including regulatory work (assents and consents), proactive conservation advice, and developing partnerships and management agreements. Your role will support NRW's biodiversity priorities and offer specialist input to colleagues and projects across the organisation.

You may also contribute to broader environmental management, including incident response, water resources, land and water quality, and work linked to delivering Water Framework Directive outcomes. You will work alongside established operational teams and play a key role in improving environmental outcomes on the ground.

Driving is essential to this role as you will need to visit remote sites to form an opinion to enable the issuing of a consent or licence. You must hold a full and current UK driving license.

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 upon appointment.

About us: At Natural Resources Wales (NRW), our vision is simple but ambitious: a future where people and nature thrive together. Everything we do is driven by the belief that a healthy natural environment underpins a strong economy, resilient communities, and a vibrant quality of life for everyone in Wales.

We play a central role in supporting Welsh Government to develop and deliver the Sustainable Farming Scheme, an initiative designed to create long-term benefits for nature, people, and the rural economy. Through this work, we help shape a more sustainable future for Welsh agriculture, ensuring land management supports biodiversity, combats climate change, and enhances the wellbeing of current and future generations.

Our teams are passionate, knowledgeable, and united by a shared purpose: to protect, restore, and reward the incredible landscapes and natural assets of Wales. If you join us, you will be part of a forward-thinking organisation where your contribution directly supports a greener, fairer, and more sustainable future.

What you will do:

• Work with a wide range of internal and external customers including permit holders, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers, and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
• Establish, maintain, and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans from concepts to implementation.
• Assess compliance with relevant legislation, permit, or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible.
• Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites.
• Provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams.
• Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery, or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices.
• Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service that follows NRW process to ensure effective, timely, and safe response to incidents.
• 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.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills:

• A good working knowledge of conservation and biodiversity, with focused experience in these distinct areas of the team remit.
• An understanding of how your role in a multi-functional team can contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources.
• Strong and effective self-management, organisational and ICT skills, including the ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or customised applications.
• The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others.
• Ensure continuing professional and personal development, expertise and competence through formal and informal learning and certification.
• Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles (cars and vans).

Welsh Language level requirements:

Essential: Level B2 - Upper intermediate level. Please note: If you do not meet the Welsh language level requirements for this role your application will not be shortlisted.

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 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 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.