Senior Marine Advisor x 2

Team / Directorate: Marine Area Advice & Management Team / Operations

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

Interview Date: 12/09/2025

Post number: 203299, 202438 (For office use only: GGL / ENV)

The role

We’re looking for an experienced and enthusiastic individual to join our close-knit, all-Wales Marine Advice Team as one of ten Senior Marine Advisors. In this key role, you will provide specialist technical advice to support the sustainable management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other marine areas around the Welsh coast and offshore waters.

You will lead and coordinate marine advice on a wide range of casework, ensuring that environmental priorities are embedded in planning and regulatory decisions. Working closely with internal colleagues and external partners, you will promote an evidence-based, ecosystem services approach and help identify opportunities to support shared goals for the marine environment.

The role is primarily home or office-based, with occasional opportunities for fieldwork alongside marine monitoring teams. You will need a solid understanding of marine legislation, particularly relating to conservation, and proven experience in marine casework. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage tight deadlines are essential.
If you’re passionate about marine conservation and enjoy working collaboratively to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

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 Charlotte Gjerlov charlotte.gjerlov@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams   

 

What you will do

• Lead on and /or coordinate provision of expert technical marine advice on offshore renewable energy developments in Welsh waters, with advice as required from All Wales Advice Team and Marine Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Team. Includes complex high-profile proposals and NSIPS/ DNS. 
• Expert witness role in public inquiries and similar fora as required. 
• Quality assure, interpret and advise on external and internal reports/ assessments.
• Develop and maintain effective stakeholder relationships and engagement, including liaison and partnership working in particular with respect to marine protected areas.
• Influence and contribute to the development and delivery of NRW Marine Service Plan and Marine Programme, and other relevant NRW policy, strategy and process, working collaboratively with EPP colleagues. 
• Provide expert technical and operational advice to the development of corporate standards/ process and guidance.
• Marine pollution incident response and preparedness.
• Mentor and coach other members of the team and colleagues as required.
• Contribute to the development and subsequent implementation of casework guidance.
• Contribute technical advice into enforcement cases, both internal and with Welsh Government regarding marine licenses.
• 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.    Substantial marine technical skills and experience.

2.    Significant knowledge of marine legislative requirements particularly marine conservation.

3.    Good knowledge and experience of marine monitoring and analysis methods.

4.    Substantial knowledge and experience of marine casework.

5.    Good marine evidence analysis and interpretation skills, report critiquing and writing skills.

6.    Good understanding of the marine and coastal development sector.

7.    Strong Influencing skills and ability to communicate, negotiate and collaborate effectively both internally and externally at senior levels.

8.    Project management / project coordination skills.

9.    Coaching and mentoring skills.

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

Please save these advert details for future reference as they will no longer be available online after the closing date.