Specialist Energy Advisor

The role

We are looking for an experienced energy policy advisor to join us, and our teams, in providing expert advice to the Welsh and UK Governments on how their policies, strategies, and plans for the energy sector in Wales effectively supports decarbonisation and nature’s recovery. Focussing on land-based energy generation technologies, this will involve sharing evidence and developing and managing strategic relationships with Welsh Government (WG), and other key stakeholders within the sector.

Working with a range of expert colleagues across our regulatory, advisory, and environmental specialist teams, you’ll be developing priority Natural Resources Wales (NRW) policies, strategies and guidance to help ensure Government, applicants, planning authorities and regulators make environmentally informed decision making in relating to the deployment of energy infrastructure on land in Wales.

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 Adrian James at [email protected]

Interviews will take place 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

Our Planning, Landscape and Energy Team sits within the Evidence Policy and Permitting Directorate of NRW. We are responsible for providing strategic direction for the wider organisation in matters relating to development planning, landscape, and energy. Our role supports Wales’s resilience to climate change, nature’s recovery, and efforts to minimise pollution.

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data sources.
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, advice and guidance documents; Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, UK Government Departments, NESO, EA, SEPA, OFGEM, Natural England, National Grid, sector bodies such as Renewables UK Cymru UK and British Hydropower Association, professional bodies and academia; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• 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 Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to energy. Welsh, UK Government policy drivers and strategies in energy, decarbonisation and climate change and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Experience of technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex energy generation, distribution and storage, decarbonisation and climate change information and data sources; analysing large data sets using spreadsheets and relevant models.
3. Working with WG, UK Government, regulators, sectors and professional bodies, and academia.
4. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
5. Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
6. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems

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.