Environmental Assessment Officer, Operations

You will be embedded with the Engineering team whose role it is to deliver the maintenance and construction of flood risk and forest assets. You will receive support from others in similar teams and the wider Environmental Assessment Team. You will be expected to travel to site, either alone or with engineers across the place.

You will primarily support the Flood Risk engineers operational activities by seeking opportunities to integrate environmental enhancements into their work, and championing NRWs environmental policy.  You’ll be required to screen the construction and maintenance activities of the engineers and to balance the environmental risk against the flood risk management. This may include preparing Habitat Regulations Assessment, assents, licences and completing environmental screen notes for internal projects.  

We have several Operational Guidance Notes (OGNs) which you’ll be expected to follow.

As an example of the type of work you might be involved; A tree in a river is found to be causing a flood risk and threat to people and or property.  The river is designated as a SAC and has many other protected species. You will work with the engineer to decide on the best method to prevent further flood risk. Once agreed you’ll be expected to apply for the relevant assents, licences, and Habitat Regulations Assessment.

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 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 Nicholas Thompson 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.

What you will do

• Ensure environmental screening of Integrated Engineering activities are completed to manage the environmental risk and to embed the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources into projects. Ensure work is legal and complies with relevant legislation, this includes preparing Habitat Regulation Assessments (OGN 200) and completing environmental screening of internal projects. (OGN 86 and 87)
• Wherever feasible, integrate SMNR, Biodiversity and/or Water Framework Directive enhancements into our own operational activities. Co-ordinate delivery of relevant NRW actions to improve the condition of protected sites in one or more places.
• Complete Water Framework Directive compliance assessments of our own activities (OGN 72).
• Ensure all relevant consents, assents and licences are in place to facilitate maintenance of our own assets and drainage networks. This includes Marine Licences and species licences (Wildlife & Countryside Act, Badger Act), including production of supporting documentation as per relevant OGNs.
• For internal colleagues provide expert advice on matters relating to biodiversity, protected sites, species and Water Framework Directive, including the control of invasive non-native species. Champion effective adoption of biosecurity measures within our Land Management functions.
• Provide support to the EPP Environmental Assessment Team to ensure FCRM and Land Management capital and revenue projects are delivered.
• Monitor implementation of works as appropriate to ensure they deliver and comply with relevant conditions.
• 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. Qualifications; conservation or ecology-based degree or equivalent with relevant experience in the work environment.
2. Good knowledge of conservation legislation, designations and organisations; planning law and policy; habitat management for conservation; catchment policy and practices; river management issues and techniques; good knowledge of river and wetland ecology; good general species ID skills.
3. Relevant experience of applying scientific principles, policy and practice to environment management.
4. Knowledge and practical experience of the objectives of the Water Framework Directive.
5. Proven knowledge and experience of project management and delivery, investigations and good report writing.
6. The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others. Experience of dealing successfully with difficult people / situations is important.
7. Full UK driving licence.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)
• Desirable: Level B2 – Upper intermediate level (able to discuss work matters)

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.