Industry & Waste Regulations Officer in Wales

The role involves enforcing waste legislation and investigating non-compliance to protect the environment and public health. This includes carrying out inspections, gathering evidence, and taking enforcement action where necessary. You will work closely with businesses and stakeholders to ensure waste is managed responsibly and legally, while also tackling illegal waste activities.

No two days are the same in this role. One day, you might be out in the field inspecting waste management sites to ensure compliance with environmental legislation. The next, you could be investigating reports of illegal waste activities, gathering evidence, interviewing suspects, and preparing enforcement cases. You will spend time recommending the most appropriate options to businesses on best practices, working with colleagues to resolve complex compliance issues, and using your regulatory powers to take action where necessary.

This role combines technical knowledge, investigative skills, and the satisfaction of knowing your work directly protects the environment and communities across Wales. As an organisation, we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the specified location, and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed upon appointment. Any regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Nia Brunning. Interviews will be face-to-face (details of location will be shared in advance) on 26 March 2026. Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS). Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us: We are committed to protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable waste management practices across Wales. Our team works at the forefront of environmental regulation, helping businesses and communities reduce their impact and comply with legislation. Join us and make a real difference in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations.

What you will do:

• Assess compliance at installations and waste sites.
• Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Where non-compliance is identified, recommend the most appropriate intervention option to ensure operators return to compliance as quickly as possible, with minimum environmental impact and consideration of the economic impacts.
• Assist in the development of medium-term regulatory strategies for regulated sites.
• Respond to incidents and complaints.
• Contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture.
• 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).
• 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:

In your application and interview, you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method:

• Knowledge and experience of either working in a regulated industry or as a regulator.
• Good understanding of commercial business processes and pressures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with regulated businesses and the public, explaining issues and gaining support by influencing.
• A full and valid UK driving licence.
• Welsh Language level requirements: Essential - Level A1 - Entry level Welsh language levels. 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.

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.

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 ensure 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.

Unless otherwise stated in the 'Role' section of this advert, Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.

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.