Lead Specialist Advisor, Knowledge & Information Management in Wales

This role provides strategic leadership for Knowledge and Information Management across Natural Resources Wales, including Records Management, Knowledge Management, Document Management and Information Architecture. It sets direction for how information is governed, structured and used across the organisation, ensuring it is secure, accessible and managed in line with statutory and organisational requirements. You will lead the development of modern, digitally enabled records management practices, supporting NRW's digital transformation agenda. This includes driving the adoption of automated retention, digital transfer processes, and the use of emerging technologies such as AI and workflow automation to improve how information is managed at scale. Acting as the organisation's lead specialist, you will interpret and apply relevant legislation and best practice to define strategy, manage risk, and ensure ongoing compliance. You will influence senior stakeholders, shaping organisational approaches to information governance and ensuring that records management principles are embedded within systems, services, and ways of working.

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

What you will do:

• Provide professional, strategic and technical leadership in the application of Records Management across NRW.
• Interpret relevant key legislation to set the strategic direction for Records Management at NRW to ensure we meet compliance requirements.
• Lead on digital transformation projects to deliver improvements in how digital information and records are stored, governed and accessed across the organisation, including investigating and applying AI and automation workflows to Records Management.
• Lead on projects to apply automatic retention rules and digital transfers onto digital records in our corporate systems including SharePoint and other internal document management systems.
• Provide strategic advice and direction to senior managers and colleagues across NRW on Records Management issues.
• Ensure compliance with key legislation: The Public Records Act 1958; UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018; Section 46 Code of Practice of the FOI Act 2000; Government of Wales Act 1998; Environmental Information Regulations 2004; The Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2015; Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.
• Represent NRW and Wales at relevant external forums and conferences to position NRW as a reputable leader in this field e.g. the International Records Management Society (IRMS), or inter-agency working groups.
• Keep abreast of current and emerging trends, legislation and developments that may be a benefit or threat to continued successful Records Management in NRW.
• Manage the budget related to this work, ensuring value for money and meeting spend targets relating to time, cost and quality.
• 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 degree level or equivalent, or able to demonstrate comparable technical know-how, in a relevant subject.
• Member of relevant Records Management profession is desirable but not essential.
• Experience in developing and delivering strategy.
• A proven ability in the application of Records Management, Project Management, Digital Transformation, and continuous improvement methodologies within a distributed organisation.
• In depth practical knowledge in the technical specialist areas it is responsible for (SharePoint online or EDRMS (e.g. TRIM, RecordPoint) including, working with complex configuration, access authentication and file plan construction tools).
• In depth knowledge of relevant legislation and policy that affect the application of Records Management in NRW (e.g. the Public Records Act, GDPR, FOI, RPSI).
• Experience of working in partnership; demonstrable skills in collaboration, co-delivery, influencing and effective communication.

Welsh Language level requirements:

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level.

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'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.