Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales
Environment Officer (Conservation)
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The Role
As an Environment Officer (Conservation), you will play a key role in delivering Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) as part of a multi-functional, place-based team.
You will contribute your technical expertise in the management of Protected Sites by:
- Undertaking the direct regulation of Protected Sites through the assenting and consenting of activities.
- Securing the effective proactive management of Protected Sites through the provision of advice and guidance, and by developing management agreements and partnerships.
- Providing specialist advice to internal teams, functions, and Directorates, and contributing to the direct or partnership delivery of projects and mitigation schemes that protect and improve the environment.
This is an exciting opportunity to apply your conservation expertise in a varied role that combines regulatory work, partnership development, and the delivery of practical environmental outcomes.
Driving is essential to this role. Due to the remote nature of many locations and limited public transport links, there is no practical alternative to travelling by vehicle. You must hold a full, current UK driving licence.
As an organisation, we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the place base/location above, and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed upon appointment. Any regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Arfon Hughes at Arfon.Hughes@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will be face to face on 15/10/2026 (details of location will be shared in advance).
About Us
The Dwyfor & Meirionnydd Environment Team is responsible for the management of 136 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). Our area stretches from the upland landscapes of Cadair Idris, Migneint Arenig, and Dduallt & Rhiniogydd, down the tributaries of the Dyfi, Mawddach, Dwyryd, and Glaslyn, to the coastline from Aberdyfi to Trefor near Caernarfon.
It is a significant area of land, renowned for its outstanding habitats and stunning scenery.
What You Will Do
- Work with a wide range of internal and external partners, specifically, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers, and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
- Establish, maintain, and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans through concepts to implementation. These projects will deliver outcomes aligned with place priorities.
- Assess compliance with relevant legislation, assent, or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure recovery of the Protected site features and a return to compliance as quickly as possible. Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
- Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites. For all work areas, produce required advice, investigations, documentation, and reports to agreed quality standards to support operational and management decisions, protected site notification, public enquiries, court cases, etc., so that information, evidence, and NRW interests are accurately and effectively presented.
- Within your area of expertise, provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams. Maintain working relationships with these teams through regular liaison.
- Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery, or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices. Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery.
- Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service that follows NRW process to ensure effective, timely, and safe response to incidents.
- 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).
- Required to take part in incident response activities.
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
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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.
- Degree level qualification or the equivalent level of knowledge in ecology, conservation, or biodiversity.
- An understanding of how multi-functional teams contribute to the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) and the wider objectives and responsibilities of NRW.
- Ensure continuing professional and personal development, expertise, and competence through formal and informal learning and certification.
- Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.
- The ability to influence, negotiate, and gain cooperation of others, including experience of dealing successfully with difficult people or situations and proven ability to work well as part of a team. The ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or NRW customised applications.
- Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles (cars and vans).
Welsh Language Level Requirements
Essential: Level C2 - Higher proficiency level
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Welsh language levels
Please note: If you do not meet the Welsh language level requirements for this role, your application will not be shortlisted.
Additional Information
Due to the nature of the work, the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years' continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK. Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.
Natural Resources Wales is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Although we hold a Skilled Worker visa sponsorship licence, it applies only to specific roles that meet both the eligibility criteria and salary requirements set out by the UK Government under the Skilled Worker visa route.
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 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.
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