Freshwater Habitats & Species Specialist

Team / Directorate: Freshwater Ecosystems and Fisheries Management / Evidence, Policy and Permitting

Starting salary:  £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2026 with the potential for extension or being made permanent, however this cannot be guaranteed

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

Interview date: To be confirmed

Post number: 201417

The role

This is a national role providing expertise on freshwater ecology across Wales. The role sets strategic direction for riverine habitats and species via the development of specific strategies, policies and work areas. The role produces and communicates evidence to inform status and trends across freshwater ecosystems. The role provides advice for case work, operational queries and licensing issues as well as to the development of the Sustainable Farming Scheme. The role contributes strongly to regulation including freshwater protected sites and features and prevention of physical damage to rivers, lakes and ponds. The role leads on proactive conservation work for riverine habitats and species via the development of projects and programmes. Finally the role leads on liaison with relevant external organisations around the protection of rivers in Wales.

The role reports to the Team Leader of the Freshwater Ecosystems and Fisheries Management team, which consists of a number of technical specialists who provide strategic advice and evidence across a broad spectrum of freshwater ecosystems and species including freshwater fisheries. The team sits withing the Water and Nature Group in NRM Policy.

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.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Suzanne Hearn at Suzanne.Hearn@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

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.

About us

This role sits in the Freshwater Ecosystems and Fisheries Management team. This is one of four teams in the Water and Nature Group which is in the Natural Resource Management Policy Department and in turn in the Evidence, Policy & Permitting Directorate (EPP). The Freshwater Ecosystems and Fisheries Management Team is a team of technical specialists who provide strategic advice and evidence across a broad spectrum of freshwater ecosystems and species including freshwater fisheries.

The team and directorate priorities align with NRW's Corporate Plan to 2030 in terms of 'Nature is Recovering' and 'Pollution is Minimised', particularly via advice to planning and permitting, steering our monitoring and reporting, developing restoration projects and running NRW's River Restoration Programme. We are an open and approachable team and are effective at working in an integrated way both internally across EPP and Operations to achieve multiple benefits for biodiversity, fisheries, climate and flood risk and externally with our many stakeholders.

 

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data sources.
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, advice and guidance documents.  Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, CEFAS, other Environment bodies, eNGOs in the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain knowledge of the technical specialist area related to freshwater habitats and species identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development Plan.
• 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.

1. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to biodiversity; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in biodiversity; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex environmental information and data sources; analysing large data sets.
3. Working with/in statutory nature conservation bodies, water companies, local authorities, eNGOs, and public bodies.
4. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.

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.

Please keep reading

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 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. 

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