Strategic Infastructure and Policy Charging Advisor

Team / Directorate: Regulation and Permitting, Evidence, Policy & Permitting

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: Fixed Term until 31 March 2028

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

Post number: 203915

The role

Do you have a strong grasp of regulatory frameworks, service charging, and stakeholder engagement? We're looking for a strategic and collaborative professional to lead the development and ongoing maintenance of Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) chargeable services, including new powers introduced through the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.

As Lead Specialist Advisor for Infrastructure and Charging, you'll take a central role in coordinating the implementation of chargeable services related to NRW's statutory consultee responsibilities. You'll work across multiple departments - including Policy, Permitting, Operations and Finance - to develop effective new processes, internal guidance, and training to support the delivery of compliant, transparent and sustainable charging schemes.

You'll also act as NRW's lead expert on future charging schemes, representing the organisation in discussions with Welsh Government, key stakeholders, and industry, ensuring our approach reflects policy, legislation, and customer needs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and implementation of chargeable services under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.
• Coordinating cross-team collaboration to establish new internal processes and ways of working.
• Producing internal and external guidance, and delivering training to support effective roll-out of new charging approaches.
• Acting as the organisational lead on future charging schemes and changes to existing regulatory fees.
• Liaising with Welsh Government, industry stakeholders and key charge payers to ensure transparency and alignment with national policy.

This is a key leadership role for someone who thrives on policy implementation, process improvement and cross-sector engagement. Help shape how NRW funds and delivers regulatory services into the future.

Interviews will be confirmed at a later date. 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.

What you will do

• Provide technical knowledge on all matters relating to regulatory charge income and grant in aid.
• Analyse key regulatory service data and interpreting to effectively underpin the development of future charging initiatives/schemes/opportunities.
• Lead on dealing with technical charge-related requests/queries and impact assessments.
• Ensure compliance with our "Managing our Money" policy, identifying and then either resolving or referring issues to governance specialists for resolution.
• Work closely with the Welsh Government, UK and European environmental regulators to share knowledge and technical understanding.
• Ensure that all Fees and Charges related technical documentation and relevant web content is up to date and maintained.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with the Welsh Government officials so that we enhance our position as a trusted advisor and are able to influence government policy and future legislation.
• Develop networks with external stakeholders and other UK Regulatory bodies to promote collaboration, best practice and consistency in approach.
• Mentor and coach Advisors within the team to ensure that the team has sufficient technical and legislative resilience with respect to all our regulatory management processes.
• Contribute to the delivery of the team's business plan, the directorate delivery plan and Natural Resources Wales's (NRWs) corporate plan.
• Lead and project manage specific and complex issues to enable consistent and appropriate understanding and application by staff.
• 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:

• Technical understanding of charging policy and its underpinning legislation for regulation.
• Strong analytical skills and experience of managing successful programmes, achieved through substantial work experience in a related field.
• Knowledge of 'Managing Welsh Public Money' Principles.
• Be able to work at pace and have a track record of delivery.
• Extensive knowledge of Welsh and UK legislation and government Policy drivers relevant to your work areas.
• Experience in informing and influencing government departments/regulators.
• Extensive experience in forming and maintaining close links with internal and external partners/stakeholders to deliver outcomes.
• Experience of understanding and applying regulatory principles.
• Being innovative and demonstrating drive to achieve targets.
• You will be expected to keep up to date with changing regulatory policy and proposed changes to legislation via membership of a relevant professional body or other equivalent means.

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.

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don't necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion. We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values. 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.