Lead Marine Fish Advisor

Team / Directorate: Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Advice / Evidence, Policy and 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)

Interview Date: 9&10/09/2025

Post number: 204011 

The role

As Lead Specialist Advisor - Marine Species (Fish) you will be a skilled and motivated specialist, able to provide expert, evidence-based advice on marine, estuarine and diadromous fish. Providing expert advice to colleagues across Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and to external partners, covering a varied range of topics, including fish biodiversity and the potential impacts of marine energy developments.

You will ensure that our advice is evidence based, look for ways to improve our evidence base and manage evidence projects. You will also write and contribute to guidance for staff and developers. Crucially, you’ll help shape the strategic direction of NRW’s work in this field, playing a key role in protecting Wales’ aquatic environments.

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 Kirsten Ramsay Kirsten.Ramsay@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk

Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams. 

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.

About us

This role is part of our Marine and Coastal Ecosystems Team – a multi-disciplinary group of specialists passionate about protecting and enhancing Wales’s marine and coastal environments. We provide expert technical advice across a wide range of topics, supporting both internal colleagues and external partners on strategic policies, programmes, plans, and guidance. You'll be working alongside other experts in the team, whose focus areas include coastal and marine habitats, marine mammals, maritime birds, marine and coastal physical processes, and water quality.

 

What you will do

• Lead and project manage specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes and guidance 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 assigned marine species policy area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, UK Government and International Policy intent.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence and project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Create and advise on guidance for NRW staff and external stakeholders.
• Maintain a detailed working knowledge of assigned marine species (marine, estuarine and diadromous fish) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s).
• Provide specialist advice to relevant NRW Programme Boards and contribute to the delivery of NRW’s Marine Programme.
• Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to assigned marine species.
• 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. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and other legislation related to Marine Species; Welsh & UK Governments & other policy drivers on marine issues; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Specialist technical knowledge and experience related to marine, estuarine and diadromous fish.
3. Knowledge and practical understanding of how to overcome the complex priorities, drivers and barriers faced by NRW, partners and stakeholders involved in delivering marine and coastal ecosystems outcomes in Wales, with particular reference to marine, estuarine and diadromous fish. 
4.  Experience of delivering evidence and guidance projects or programmes relevant to marine, estuarine and diadromous fish.
5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications. 
6. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
7. 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

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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