Environment Officer (Conservation) - Dolgellau

The role

Help us to make achieve the global biodiversity target that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed. NRW is supporting Welsh Government in the implementation of the sustainable farming scheme (SFS). 

We are establishing a new service to develop designated sites management plans for farmers, and help identify actions that deliver on farm benefits for habitats and species, as well as wider environmental benefits. 

The role

Help us deliver Wales’s contribution to the global goal of conserving 30% of land, freshwater and marine environments by 2030. Working as part of NRW’s support for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS), you’ll help create practical management plans for designated sites and work directly with farmers to identify actions that benefit habitats, species and the wider environment.

For 204160- 204162 -  We are recruiting Environment Officers across North East and North West Wales, on fixed-term appointment until 31/03/2027 only. These roles will be based out of our Bangor, Buckley and Dolgellau sites.

For 204157 - 204159 -  We are recruiting Environment Officers across Mid West, Mid East and South West Wales, on fixed-term appointment until 31/03/2027 only. These roles will be based out of our Aberystwyth, Welshpool and Cross Hands sites.

You will provide technical expertise in protected site management, including regulatory work (assents and consents), proactive conservation advice, and developing partnerships and management agreements. Your role will support NRW’s biodiversity priorities and offer specialist input to colleagues and projects across the organisation.

You may also contribute to broader environmental management, including incident response, water resources, land and water quality, and work linked to delivering Water Framework Directive outcomes.

You’ll work alongside established operational teams and play a key role in improving environmental outcomes on the ground. As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home in the above list of locations 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 Russell De-Ath at russell.de-ath@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams the week commencing 16 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

At Natural Resources Wales (NRW), our vision is simple but ambitious: a future where people and nature thrive together. Everything we do is driven by the belief that a healthy natural environment underpins a strong economy, resilient communities, and a vibrant quality of life for everyone in Wales.

We play a central role in supporting Welsh Government to develop and deliver the Sustainable Farming Scheme, an initiative designed to create long‑term benefits for nature, people, and the rural economy. Through this work, we help shape a more sustainable future for Welsh agriculture, ensuring land management supports biodiversity, combats climate change, and enhances the wellbeing of current and future generations.

Our teams are passionate, knowledgeable, and united by a shared purpose: to protect, restore, and reward the incredible landscapes and natural assets of Wales. If you join us, you’ll be part of a forward‑thinking organisation where your contribution directly supports a greener, fairer and more sustainable future.

What you will do

• Work with a wide range of internal and external customers including permit holders, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
• Establish, maintain and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans through from concepts to implementation. These projects will deliver outcomes aligned with place priorities.
• Assess compliance with relevant legislation, permit or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible. Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites. For all work areas produce required advice, investigations, documentation and reports to agreed quality standards to support operational and management decisions, protected site notification, public enquiries, court cases etc so that information, evidence and NRW interests are accurately and effectively presented.
• Within your area of expertise, provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams. Maintain working relationships with these teams through regular liaison.
• Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices. Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery.
• Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service that follows NRW process to ensure effective, timely and safe response to incidents.
• 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. A good working knowledge of conservation and biodiversity, with focused experience in these distinct areas of the team remit.
2. An understanding of how your role in a multi-functional team can contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources.
3. Strong and effective self-management, organisational and ICT skills, including the ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or customised applications.
4. The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others including experience of dealing successfully with difficult people or situations and proven ability to work well as part of a team.
5. Ensure continuing professional and personal development, expertise and competence through formal and informal learning and certification.
6. Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles (cars and vans).

Welsh Language level requirements 

• Essential: Level C1 - Proficiency 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. 

Post holders will contribute specific technical expertise to the team in Protected Sites Management. This will include direct regulation through assenting and consenting of activities, and securing effective pro-active management through advice, guidance and developing management agreements and partnerships.

The role will contribute to delivering NRWs Biodiversity remit, strategy and priorities through provision of internal advice to other teams, functions or Directorates, as well as direct or partnership delivery of projects and mitigation schemes that protect or improve the environment.

Environment Management work may also include incident management, regulation and compliance linked to Water Resources, Land or Water Quality. Implementation of regulatory and supporting partnership solutions and projects that deliver environmental outcomes on the ground, including Water Framework Directive.

There are 6 roles in total, at least 5 of those will be location specific (3 in North Wales, 2 in Mid Wales, and 1 in South Wales). You will be working alongside established operational teams. 

About us

NRW's vision is for a future where people and nature thrive together, and we are committed to delivering multiple benefits and opportunities for nature, people and the rural economy through supporting Welsh Government in the development and implementation of the Sustainable Farming Scheme.