Development Planning Advisor

Team / Directorate: Development Planning Advice Team / Operations Directorate

Starting salary:  £32,544 rising to £35,377 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview date: Week commencing 2 June 2025

Post number: 200030

The role

Have you experience of reviewing environmental reports or working within the Town and Country Planning process and want the opportunity to influence development and the sustainable management of natural resources in Wales?

Our Development Planning Advice Service is responsible for providing expert and influential environmental advice to Planning Authorities to support their decision making.

We’re looking for a person with a real passion, a team player who is confident, enthusiastic and organised with excellent negotiating and influencing skills to join our team.

You will be responsible for assessing and advising on the environmental impacts of proposed planning applications.  You will consider a wide range of topics including flood risk, water quality, contaminated land, designated conservation sites, European Protected Species and landscape.  You will be able to draw on technical experts across our organisation to support you in your work.

The work is varied and you will dealing an array of different types of development including renewable energy, housing, economic regeneration and agricultural development.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location 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 Bryn Jones at Bryn.Jones@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be face to face (details of time and location will be shared in advance) 

Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you will do

• Produce external advice to preapplication enquiries, development management consultations (with the support of more senior colleagues on technically complex, development proposals) ensuring NRW advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Contribute to the preparation of information in relation to challenges against at NRW advice.  
• Develop and maintain effective customer relationships.
• Maintain auditable records of actions and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• 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.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

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 environmental impact assessment techniques and methods.
2. Knowledge of development planning processes.
3. Able to communicate effectively with customers, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.
4. Able to analyse information and situations, solve problems and make sound judgements.
5. Able to write clear, concise documents.
6. Able to work well as part of a team.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: C1 - Higher proficiency level (fluent in both spoken and written Welsh)

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

If you think you have what it takes to do this role, but don’t necessarily meet every single point on the job description, please still get in touch and we will be happy to discuss the role with you in more detail.

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of disability, neurodivergence, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, gender expression and gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, culture, or religion.   We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

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. 

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