203896 Lead Infrastructure Programme Advisor
Closing Date: 15 June 2025 | Salary: Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877 per annum | Location: Flexible
Team / Directorate: Planning, Landscape & Energy Team, Evidence Policy & Permitting
Starting salary: £45,367 rising to £50,877 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)
Post number: 203896
The role
Are you ready to lead a nationally significant programme that will shape the future of infrastructure and including renewable energy in Wales? We’re looking for an experienced professional to drive the delivery of our response to the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 and lead programme development for infrastructure planning .
As Lead Specialist Advisor for Infrastructure you’ll coordinate the creation of key guidance, tools, and resources to support Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in fulfilling its responsibilities under this new legislation. You’ll act as a central figure in aligning NRW’s strategic direction with Welsh and UK Government infrastructure and energy policy.
Working across regulatory, advisory and operational teams, you’ll ensure internal coordination and external collaboration is seamless. You will also manage high-level relationships with Welsh Government, the renewables sector, and other national stakeholders to ensure the successful translation of policy into practical delivery.
Key responsibilities include:
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Leading the development and delivery of NRW’s infrastructure programme aligned with the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024.
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Creating strategic guidance, tools and resources to support policy implementation.
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Translating government energy and infrastructure policy into effective delivery plans.
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Collaborating across NRW and externally with government officials, developers, and sector bodies.
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Providing specialist advice on renewables to influence national programmes and policies.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead strategic infrastructure work at a national level, in a role that combines policy expertise, programme leadership and strong stakeholder influence.
To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Adrian James at Adrian.james@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk.
Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.
Interviews will be confirmed at a later date.
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
- Lead the project management of NRW’s the infrastructure programme, including identification of specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, guidance, tools, programmes, and manage their delivery, as well as support on casework that is often novel, contentious or of high public interest.
- Provide statutory advice to WG and other bodies in Wales as well as UK government departments with reserved marine responsibilities, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies.
- Retain ownership and oversight of the land use planning area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, UK Government and EU Policy intent.
- Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of infrastructure development in Wales and the consenting regimes relevant to infrastructure identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales.
- Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
- Support the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to infrastructure including renewable energy.
- 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 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.
- Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to infrastructure development. Welsh, UK Government policy drivers and strategies relevant to infrastructure development and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of how to overcome the complex priorities, drivers and barriers faced by NRW, partners and stakeholders involved in delivering infrastructure alongside environmental outcomes in Wales.
- Experience of: In-depth understanding of the planning, management and regulation of infrastructure and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
- Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
- You will be a member of relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
- Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
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
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.