Marine Water Quality Improvements Specialist

You will lead on the planning and delivery of a Welsh Government funded project to improve water quality (WQ) in Marine Protected Areas and Water Framework Directive waterbodies in Wales, focusing on nutrient inputs derived mainly from agricultural practices. You will review current evidence around WQ failures to develop a strategic plan which will implement management solutions in key affected areas. You will work with other WQ officers, NRW teams and stakeholders to understand the most effective mechanisms to deliver the project within budget and on schedule. You will work with landowners to implement improvements such as tree planting and fencing to reduce the level of agricultural derived nutrients reaching watercourses and support other project WQ officers in delivery of their management measures. Using technical expertise, you will also lead on developing a water quality monitoring plan to inform where delivery will take place and options to monitor benefits.

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 Lily Pauls at [email protected]

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

Natural Resources Wales has been putting in place an exciting new programme of marine work with support from Welsh Government’s Water Capital Programme. NRW will deliver a suite of projects focussed on Welsh coasts and seas. In addition, we will be undertaking feasibility and evidence work that will help us to put in place better management for our coasts and seas in the future.

In this role, you will sit within the Marine Sustainable Management Team and work closely with a range of technical specialists in NRW, and partners and stakeholders across Wales.

What you will do

• Develop and support delivery of a plan for a 5 year marine water quality project (tackling agricultural related nutrient pollution), working with other water quality officers, external stakeholders and other NRW staff. 
• Prepare technical assessments and monitoring strategies, drawing on a range of complex information and data;
• Provide technical advice, support and guidance for the water quality officers.
• Implement management measures on the ground to improve water quality
• Represent the project team on relevant internal technical groups, and internal/external stakeholder and sector meetings.  Act as the data technical expert.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners and WG; and be the lead point of contact to queries on the project.
• Provide progress reports, maintain risk register and other related project management tasks
• 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 water quality improvement management measures, partnership working and catchment management
2. Knowledge of relevant WQ related legislation and agricultural practices.
3. Excellent team working and communication skills and the ability to represent the project to a variety of audiences including external stakeholders.
4. Experience of technical analysis and interpreting a range of environmental information and data; analysing large data sets.
5. Knowledge methods for water quality monitoring.
6. Project management experience and/or qualifications.
7. Experience in running contracts and managing budgets

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential:   Level A1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

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.