Senior Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme Officer in Wales

The role involves shaping the future of energy efficiency and decarbonisation in Wales. Natural Resources Wales is recruiting for two vacancies within our Carbon Permitting Team, offering a unique opportunity to help shape and deliver climate change regulation across Wales.

These national, high-profile roles support the delivery of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS), helping regulated organisations meet their obligations while contributing to environmental protection and the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The successful candidate will undertake a range of technical and regulatory responsibilities, including:

• Assessing permit applications
• Reviewing emissions data and compliance returns
• Delivering audits and inspections
• Supporting compliance and enforcement activities

Both roles will also involve analysing complex technical information, contributing to management reporting, and identifying opportunities to improve regulatory processes and scheme delivery.

One of the vacancies will focus on leading NRW's delivery of the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) across Wales. This role will provide strategic oversight of the scheme, act as NRW's lead specialist for ESOS policy and regulation, and work closely with Welsh Government, the Environment Agency, and other UK regulators to support consistent and effective scheme delivery.

Both positions require strong technical, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and provide clear, evidence-based advice. You will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including industry operators, consultants, government bodies, and partner regulators, representing NRW with professionalism and technical credibility.

Driving is essential to this role in order to monitor on-site compliance. You must hold a full and current UK driving license.

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 upon appointment.

What you will do:

• Determine a range of applications for UK Emission Trading Scheme permits ensuring that large energy users in sectors such as metals, chemicals, and electricity production operate in a way that minimises their impact on climate change.
• Ensure compliance with the UK Emission Trading Scheme permits and ESOS across Wales through site compliance audits, report assessment, and enforcement work as required.
• Prepare annual reports of Greenhouse Gas emissions in Wales to Government and other interested parties.
• Provide advice and guidance on all climate change regulation to team members and customers, ensuring they are fully informed of the wider legislative requirements.
• Represent Natural Resources Wales on United Kingdom regulator forums, ensuring that the needs of Welsh industry are considered in the development of climate change legislation.
• Coach and mentor others on UK Emission Trading Scheme and Energy Savings Opportunity work.
• Build strong working relationships with customers, partners, and other stakeholders across the UK.
• Undertake health and safety duties appropriate to the post.
• Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy.
• Commit 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:

• Education to degree level or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
• A detailed understanding of all climate change legislation including UK Emissions Trading Scheme and Energy Saving Opportunity Scheme.
• Strong influencing skills.
• Practical experience of applying climate change legislation to the regulation or operation of process industry and health sector sites.
• Strong customer-focused approach to delivery.
• Proven effective planning and organisational skills.
• Proven coaching and mentoring skills.

Welsh Language level requirements: Essential: Level A1 - Entry level. 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 your employment.

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.

This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route.

Benefits include:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97%
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• Generous leave entitlements for all 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 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.

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 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.