Natura 2000 Sustainable Management Adviser

Team / Directorate: Newport, Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Environment Team / Operations

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: Fixed Term Appointment until 31 March 2026 with possibility of extension

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: 15/08/2025

Post number: 203218

The role

Are you ready to take action on the nature emergency and help shape a more sustainable future for Wales? We’re looking for a passionate and proactive Natura 2000 Sustainable Management Adviser to join our Environment Team based at the St. Mellons office in Cardiff.

This is a unique opportunity to play a central role in protecting and restoring some of Wales’ most important habitats and species. You’ll work closely with landowners, communities, and key partners—including the Welsh Government—to design and deliver projects that support nature recovery, improve the condition of protected sites, and enhance ecosystem resilience across the region.

Day to day, you’ll be involved in developing and managing on-the-ground conservation initiatives, identifying and securing funding through grants and capital investment proposals, and ensuring projects align with NRW’s Vital Nature strategy and local Area Statement priorities. You’ll provide expert ecological advice on terrestrial biodiversity and work with others to co-create practical, lasting solutions for land and habitat management. Your role will also include supporting management agreements with landowners, ensuring compliance and reporting, and monitoring progress to keep delivery on track.

This is a role where your ideas, knowledge, and collaboration skills will directly translate into action and positive outcomes for nature. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team that values innovation, flexibility, and partnership working. If you’re looking for a role with variety, responsibility, and genuine impact—this is your chance to help drive real change for biodiversity and the environment in Wales.

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 Kate Rodgers Kate.rodgers@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

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. 

 

What you will do

• Work with NRW staff, Welsh Government and external partners to develop partnership projects that will reverse biodiversity declines. 
• Identify and develop proposals for capital and grant aid funding for actions and projects in Place driven by NRW’s Vital Nature Document and Area Statement priorities, consistent with Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) principles. .
• Work with Environment, Land Management Team and Land owners to help deliver Management Agreements. 
• Ensure that implementation and reporting of the project fully adheres to NRW policies and procedures. 
• Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery or compliance with management agreements Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery. Gather evidence to check that claim submissions are appropriate
• 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 nature conservation, biodiversity, protected sites & landscapes in marine or terrestrial environment.
2.     Experience of working with landowners and/or other stakeholders. 
3.    Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills. 
4.    The ability to influence, negotiate and gain cooperation of others. Experience of dealing successfully with difficult people / situations is important. 
5.    Excellent communication and inter-personal skills with a customer focus.
6.    Excellent at building effective working relationship with colleagues and external partners. 
7.    Ability to write clear, concise technical reports. 
8.    The ability to use specialised IT systems, such as GIS or NRW customised applications. 
9.    Able to work well as part of a team. 
10.    Hold a current full UK valid licence to drive NRW fleet vehicles

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% (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. 

Apply for this role

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