The role
As a Senior Waste Permitting Officer, you'll be responsible for assessing complex and high-profile waste permit applications .
You'll carry out detailed technical assessments, consult with experts, and ensure decisions are robust, defensible, and well-documented. You may also act as an expert witness in public inquiries, supporting evidence-based, transparent regulation.
This is a busy, desk-based role where you'll manage multiple cases simultaneously-balancing deadlines, problem-solving, and applying risk-based decision making under tight statutory timescales. You'll also play a key role in mentoring and supporting the wider team, helping to maintain high technical standards.
If you're looking for a role that combines technical challenge, environmental impact, and decision making in a supportive team setting -this is it.
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.
Interviews will take place via 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.
About us
As the principal environmental regulator for Wales, Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays a critical role in protecting, maintaining, and enhancing our natural resources-helping ensure a healthy environment for people and wildlife, now and in the future.
Our Permitting Service is central to this mission. By robustly assessing applications for a wide range of regulated activities, we reduce environmental risks, support sustainable economic growth, and promote responsible behaviour across Wales.
Though small in size, our department has a broad reach, made up of eight expert teams working collaboratively to share knowledge and drive best practice:
Water Resources
Water Quality
Waste
Installations & Radioactive Substances
Marine Licensing
Species Licensing
Forestry
Permit Delivery
Your role will sit within the Waste Permitting Team.
What you will do
The post holder will:
Lead on complex permit determination and decision under waste permitting legislation by carrying out appropriate technical assessment in accordance with NRW policies and procedures where available, and issue, refuse or vary permits within timescales.
Lead on influencing and implementing mentoring and coaching frameworks to aid technical development of other permitting officers within waste permitting and where applicable throughout the permitting service, ensuring consistency in approach.
Extensive experience of permitting decision making using a range of technical guidance and technical software and modelling programmes as required by the waste permitting regime.
Lead on supporting operational teams by providing specialist expertise in pre-application discussions and post permit work for a range of application types within the field of waste.
Identify and deliver opportunities for process and procedural changes.
Deliver an efficient and effective service by co-ordinating change that leads to an improved internal and external stakeholder experience of the Permitting Service.
Co-ordinate and lead in preparing defence in relation to legal challenges against permit decisions for your assigned area of work.
Represent the Permitting Service on relevant internal technical groups and relevant external stakeholder events.
Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills Education to degree level or equivalent in a relevant scientific discipline.
An in-depth understanding of the relevant legislation and how it relates to the waste permitting process.
Extensive experience of assessing complex waste permit applications.
Proven coaching and mentoring skills.
Strong customer focussed approach to delivery.
Track record of delivering timely optimal solutions by effective information analysis and risk-based decisions.
Effective planning and organisation skills.
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