Specialist Infrastructure Advisor

Team / Directorate: Planning, Landscape and Energy / Evidence, Policy & 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: Permanent 

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: 14 & 15 July 2025

Post number: 203920

The role

To lead on the provision of Land Use Planning technical assessments and advice relating to: the deployment of energy infrastructure and their associated development; and the delivery of wider forms of major infrastructure.  This technical/specialist advice will inform the development of NRW policy, programmes, plans, strategies and guidance.  You will work with colleagues from other teams in EPP and Operations, officials from WG and sector representatives.

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 Adrian James at adrian.james@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams 

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.

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data.
• 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, POSW, PEDW, sector and business leads, environment bodies, professional and other statutory bodies in the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) 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 land use planning and energy. Welsh, UK Government policy drivers and strategies in land use planning and energy, and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex land use planning and environmental, social, economic cultural and spatial information and data sources, including the preparation of development plans, development planning and environmental assessment (including SEA, HRA and EIA) processes.
3. Working with Welsh Government, PINS, Local Authorities, Designated Landscapes, professional bodies business and sectors.
4. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications. 
5. You will be a member of RTPI / other environmental professional body and/or working towards membership.
6. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.

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

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 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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