Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales
Senior Investigative Officer
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The Role
You will be working as NRW's lead advisor and Senior Investigative Officer. The post holder will personally oversee complex investigations, providing advice on direction and ensuring they are thoroughly investigated. We are looking for an experienced individual who is capable of providing the relevant technical expertise and able to ensure the correct strategic direction of investigations, assessing compliance with key legal standards.
Driving is essential to this role as you will be expected to travel to locations across Wales where public transport will not always be practical or appropriate. 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. Any regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Ian Thomas at Ian.G.Thomas@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place week commencing 14 September 2026 through Microsoft Teams.
About Us
The Central Enforcement Support Team provides a once-for-Wales function for NRW. This means that the team works across all areas and directorates, delivering a range of activities from providing the organization's intelligence function, supporting the use of a broad range of legislation, delivering the Strategic Crime Assessment, and providing an important link for NRW with a variety of partnerships in the wider law enforcement community. This is an exciting time to join the team as we build its capacity and function, seeking to help develop and further professionalize the work done within NRW.
What You Will Do
- Lead the development and continuous improvement of NRW's Senior Investigative Officer capability, procedures, and professional standards.
- Interpret changes in legislation, guidance, and investigative best practice and provide advice on their application across NRW.
- Contribute to the development of enforcement strategy, policy, and operational practice within NRW.
- Analyse and interpret complex evidential, legal, and intelligence material to support decision-making and ensure proportionate and effective investigation strategies.
- Influence internal and external stakeholders to secure effective investigation outcomes and promote best practice in enforcement and prosecution activities.
- Undertake research into emerging investigative techniques, legislation, and enforcement methodologies to support continuous improvement and organizational learning.
- Play a pivotal role in the development of the SIO capability of the organization.
- Generating and managing training and development programmes for warranted staff.
- Support and mentor colleagues in the roles and functions of the SIO.
- 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 in a relevant subject area, or equivalent knowledge and experience gained through significant investigative and enforcement practice.
- Knowledge of key legislative regimes including PACE, CPIA1996 and its Code of Practice, RIPA 2000, GDPR, and POCA, Government Security Classifications.
- Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public and gaining support by influencing.
- Comfortable and competent in dealing with challenging situations and individuals.
- Experience of enforcement sector.
- Strong organizational, time management, and interpersonal skills.
- Extensive knowledge and experience of regulatory and enforcement processes.
- Coaching and mentoring skills.
Welsh Language Level Requirements
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level.
Welsh Language Levels
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.
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.
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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, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.
Please note that while we may be able to support the Certificate of Sponsorship required for a visa application, the organization does not cover the cost of the visa itself, including any associated fees for dependants.
The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
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 organization 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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