Fisheries Biologist

Team / Directorate: Environmental Assessment Team / Operations Directorate

Starting salary:  £36,246 rising to £39,942 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 12/05/2025

Post number: 201151

The role

South East Environmental Assessment and Advice Team (EAAT) are a multifunctional team undertaking terrestrial and freshwater ecology, water quality and fishery surveys and investigations. Our work provides evidence that enables delivery of environmental outcomes to place whilst meeting statutory and national requirements. The team is one of the 6 Environmental Assessment and Advice Teams that operate across Wales.  

Support the planning and implementation of monitoring and assessment programmes and contributing to reporting programmes.

Deliver environmental monitoring programmes (primarily fisheries) by leading on survey and monitoring activity including, when necessary incident response, planning and scheduling of work programmes and delivery.

As a technical monitoring officer in a particular monitoring discipline, the post-holder will support delivery of environmental monitoring programmes through analysis, interpretation and reporting of samples and or environmental data.

Support the Team Leader in planning, co-coordinating and tracking delivery of monitoring programmes, as well as liaising with NRW Analytical Services, OMAR teams and other place-based teams on sampling requirements.   

A position has become available for a fisheries biologist with experience of fisheries monitoring/fish counters and data analysis, to assist in the delivery of a number of fish monitoring projects across 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 Peter Clabburn at    Peter.Clabburn@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

• Coordinate and oversee the deployment, operation, and development of fish counter equipment at established monitoring sites, including complex ARIS/DIDSON installations.
• Process fish counter data using various techniques, analyse fisheries and environmental data, and interpret findings to support project objectives.
• Maintain and update quality-assured monitoring data in relevant databases, ensuring compliance with European, UK, and NRW standards. Undertake system administration, data quality assurance, and reporting.
• Provide specialist technical advice to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring decisions are based on sound scientific judgment and best practices.
• Produce technical reports interpreting national and local datasets for operational use, public inquiries, and legal cases.
• Assist in planning, scheduling, and tracking annual survey and monitoring programmes, including sampling activities. Contribute to the delivery of these programmes and advise on non-routine monitoring work.
• Support the development and implementation of new fish counting, monitoring, and reporting methods, collaborating with partner organisations where needed.
• Help resolve local issues by providing scientific and technical advice on monitoring data, supporting operational decision-making.
• Maintain and procure specialist sampling equipment to ensure effective delivery of monitoring programmes.
• Respond to requests for monitoring data within specified deadlines and ensure all data collection aligns with regulatory requirements.
• 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. Experience of analysing samples, field-based monitoring / surveillance, interpreting and reporting on environmental data and practical knowledge of a wide range of monitoring activities and methodologies. Specific knowledge of fisheries monitoring, especially automated fish counters, is highly desirable.
2. You will hold a degree or equivalent in biology, ecology or environmental science
3. Expertise in fisheries science and ecology.
4. Excellent report writing skills and knowledge of relevant legislation.
5. Good analytical skills including statistics, and knowledge of data handling and databases, required.
6. An excellent communicator with good organisational skills.
7. Ability to undertake fieldwork in sometimes physically demanding environments.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)

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%
• 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. 

Apply for this role