Senior Water Resources Planner

Team / Directorate: Water Resources / Evidence, Policy & Permitting

Starting salary:  £41,132 rising to £44,988 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Part time, 22.2 hours per week 

Post number: 201337

The role

As a Senior Planner, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of water resource management in Wales. You will take the lead in managing and coordinating Natural Resources Wales' (NRW) water resources capital and non-staff revenue programmes. Your efforts will ensure these programmes are planned and delivered using cost-effective, reliable, and efficient processes that contribute to our broader goals of sustainability and resource optimisation.

This role will see you spearheading the development of technical assessments, tools, processes, and guidance. You will provide expert advice and support the team’s work planning, helping to deliver impactful solutions for Wales' water resources challenges.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You will work closely with colleagues in Finance and the Regulatory Business Management team to advise on water resources charge-setting processes. This includes supporting charge consultations and the development of new or revised water resource charging schemes to ensure fairness, transparency, and appropriateness.

As part of the Water Resources Team within the Natural Resources Management Policy Department, under the Evidence, Policy and Permitting (EPP) Directorate, you will help drive water resource policy and planning across our Regulation and Natural Resources Management Policy departments. Working within a dispersed yet highly collaborative team, you will make a meaningful contribution to sustainably managing Wales' water resources for the benefit of people, businesses, and the environment.

In this role, you will engage with technical specialists, regulators, and sector representatives across NRW and beyond. We are looking for an experienced, motivated professional to join us on our mission to make a positive difference in water resource sustainability.

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 Caroline Harris at Caroline.Harris@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 

Interviews will be conducted in person. The interviews will take place at Cathays Parc CP2. Date to be confirmed.

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

• Negotiate with senior managers and the Regulatory Business Managment team on abstraction charge setting, the charges consultation and any new abstraction charges scheme.
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW's prioritised water resources capital and revenue programmes, based on NRW needs to maximise outcomes and ensure schemes are delivered, Manage the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors and partners.
• Support engagement with WG, Ofwat, EA, and water companies and other Environment bodies in the UK;
• Maintain knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development Plan.
• 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 *and that of your staff 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. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to Water Resources; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in Water Resources in the WG Water Strategy; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.

2. Experience of:  business and financial planning, including planning work programmes with clear deliverables.

3. Interpreting complex financial information.

4. Working with/in water companies and the Environment Agency.

5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications. 

6. You will be a member of CIWEM or another relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.

7. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: 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. 

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