Marine Water Quality Lead Advisor

We’re looking for a marine water quality specialist who brings strong technical expertise and a solid understanding of the policies and legislation that shape this field. In this role, you’ll provide high-quality advice across a diverse range of marine water quality issues—from nutrients, contaminants and ecotoxicology, to suspended sediments and, ideally, modelling.

This is a chance to help shape the strategic direction of NRW’s work on marine and estuarine water quality, particularly within our network of Marine Protected Areas. You’ll ensure our advice (e.g. on management actions, regulation and policy) is grounded in robust evidence, while actively seeking opportunities to strengthen that evidence base through targeted projects. You’ll also play a key role in developing clear, practical guidance for colleagues and developers, working closely with experts across both marine and water quality teams.

You’ll be at the heart of work that includes:

• Identifying and delivering evidence needs for marine water quality, including commissioning research and collaborating with academic partners.
• Developing guidance for colleagues advising on marine developments—from power stations to tidal range energy schemes.
• Providing specialist scientific advice on nutrient management in coastal and marine environments.
• Advising on water quality elements of condition assessments and contributing to effective management actions in Marine Protected Areas.
• Offering strategic, high-level input on water quality to influence major plans and projects led by external organisations.

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 Kirsten Ramsay at [email protected]

Interviews will take place week commencing 27 April 2026 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.

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 organisation 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

About us

This role is in our Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Team – a multi-disciplinary group of specialists passionate about protecting and enhancing Wales’s marine and coastal environments. We provide expert technical advice across a wide range of topics, supporting both internal colleagues and external partners on strategic policies, programmes, plans, and guidance. You will work alongside other lead specialists in the team who advise on coastal habitats, marine habitats, marine mammals, maritime birds, marine and coastal physical processes and fish and you will also work closely with staff in the Sustainable Water and Nature Group and in Operations.

What you will do

• Lead and project manage specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes and guidance including support on casework that is novel, contentious or of high public interest.
• Provide statutory advice to WG and other bodies in Wales as well as UK government departments with reserved marine responsibilities, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies.
• Retain ownership and oversight of marine water quality policy area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, UK Government and International Policy intent.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence and project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Create and advise on guidance for NRW staff and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of marine water quality, identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Provide specialist advice to relevant NRW Programme Boards and contribute to the delivery of NRW’s Marine Programme.
• Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to marine water quality.
• 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.

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 other legislation related to the marine environment and specifically water quality; Welsh & UK Governments & other policy drivers on Marine issues; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Knowledge and practical understanding of how to overcome the complex priorities, drivers and barriers faced by NRW, partners and stakeholders involved in delivering marine and coastal ecosystems outcomes in Wales, with particular reference to water quality.
3. Specialist technical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of marine water quality.
4. Experience of delivering evidence and guidance projects or programmes relevant to water quality.
5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
6. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
7. Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.

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.

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.

Unless otherwise stated in the ‘Role’ section of this advert, 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.

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.