Lead Marine and Energy Policy Advisor
Closing Date: 15 June 2025 | Salary: Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877 per annum | Location: Flexible
Team / Directorate: Marine & Coastal Policy & Planning, 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: 203914
The role
Are you ready to influence the future of marine industries and renewable energy in Wales? If you’re an experienced policy advisor with a passion for the marine environment, we want to hear from you.
As our Lead Specialist Advisor for Marine and Energy Policy, you'll play a key role in shaping how Wales manages and protects its marine and coastal environments. You’ll lead the development of strategic advice and guidance on marine industries and renewable energy, working with the Welsh and UK Governments, key stakeholders, and internal partners.
Your insights will directly influence national marine policy, ensuring that development in our seas is both sustainable and resilient. You’ll be a senior voice representing Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in key forums across the UK, helping to tackle the climate and nature emergencies head-on.
This is a high-impact role at the heart of marine strategy in Wales – ideal for someone with a proactive mindset and a strong background in marine policy or environmental strategy. Join our expert, passionate team and help shape a thriving marine future for Wales. Flexible working, a supportive culture, and the chance to make a meaningful difference await.
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 Helen Bloomfield at helen.bloomfield@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk.
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 and project manage specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes including support on casework that is 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 marine industry and energy policy area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, Central 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 the marine industry and energy sectors 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.
- Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to marine industry and 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.
- Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to the planning, management and regulation of the marine environment; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in the planning and management of marine industry and energy sectors; 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 marine industry and energy sectors outcomes in Wales.
- Experience of: In-depth understanding of the planning, management and regulation of marine industries and energy sectors 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 a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
- Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
- Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.
Welsh language level requirements
- Essential: Level C2 - Higher proficiency level (fluent in both spoken and written Welsh)
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.
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