The role
Are you passionate about protecting nature from the impacts of air pollution?
We are looking for a skilled specialist to join our team and help safeguard our most important conservation sites. In this role, you will lead on assessing the ecological impacts of pollutants. You will also provide expert advice on how air pollutants affect sensitive habitats and species.
As a Senior Specialist you will also support the development of tools, training, and guidance that raise awareness of pollutant impacts and build organisational expertise and analyse and interpret ecological data, applying relevant legislation to inform decision.
You will work with colleagues across planning, permitting, and local operations, as well as with evidence and policy teams and external partners. Your work will help shape decisions, guidance, and policy that protect our natural environment.
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 Matthew Bevington at
Matthew Bevington
at
Interviews will take place through
Microsoft Teams the week commencing the 2nd March 2026.
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.
About Us
This role currently sits within our South West People and Places Team in the Operations Directorate, reporting to Mark Sabine, Team Leader, however w e are considering whether this role should move to our Strategy, Policy and Evidence Directorate to help build a dedicated group of air quality specialists.
The People and Places team works across communities and landscapes to deliver environmental improvements that benefit both people and nature. We are collaborative, supportive, and committed to making a real difference on the ground.
What You Will Do
* Lead on assessing the ecological impacts of pollutants such as ammonia, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide, ensuring evidence-based decisions that safeguard protected sites and habitats.
* Provide expert advice on development and permitting proposals, with a focus on safeguarding protected sites, ensuring compliance with environmental legislation and promoting sustainable land-use practices.
* Support the development of tools, training, and guidance that raise awareness of pollutant impacts and build organisational expertise.
* Analyse and interpret complex ecological data, applying relevant legislation to inform regulatory decisions and strategic planning. Translate findings into clear, actionable advice for internal teams, senior managers, and external stakeholders.
* 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.
Recognised qualification, degree, or equivalent knowledge in ecology, conservation, or a related discipline.
* Recognised qualification, degree, or equivalent knowledge in ecology, conservation, or a related discipline.
* Specialist expertise in air quality impact assessment and its effects on terrestrial ecosystems.
* Significant knowledge of environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks, including habitats regulations, planning systems, and permitting requirements.
* Excellent interpersonal abilities with a customer focus, capable of building effective working relationships with colleagues, partners, and senior stakeholders.
* Able to assess complex ecological and air quality data, apply relevant legislation, and provide clear, evidence-based advice to inform regulatory decisions and strategic planning.
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.
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.