Terrestrial Ornithology Specialist Advisor

As Specialist Advisor Terrestrial Ornithologist you will provide expert advice on terrestrial birds to Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW) Development Planning Advice Service on planning casework; lead on the development of guidance, tools and best practice for approaches to terrestrial bird planning casework; engage with internal teams and external customers to deliver clear, practical advice to support their decision making; work with other NRW terrestrial ornithologists to advise on evidence needs and opportunities for the promotion of bird conservation in Wales.

This role has been created to support NRW’s responses to development planning in relation to terrestrial birds and will sit within the Terrestrial Species Team working with other technical specialists. We are looking for someone with an excellent understanding of birds in Wales and their requirements when dealing with development applications including Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. You will also have excellent communication skills and experience of preparing technical guidance for different audiences and sectors.

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 Liz Halliwell [email protected]

Interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams 03/10/2025.

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

The Terrestrial Species Team is a multi-disciplinary group of technical specialists with expertise across all major terrestrial species groups. We provide strategic and operational advice—both within Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and to external partners—to help protect and enhance biodiversity across Wales.

We are part of the newly formed Sustainable Land and Nature Group, which plays a key role in delivering NRW’s vision of nature and people thriving together. Our work focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and species, and on promoting sustainable land, forestry, and woodland management.

As a team, we shape NRW’s environmental policy and strategy in these areas. We lead the development of technical guidance, policy positions, and strategic outcomes, and work closely with teams across NRW—including Regulation and Permitting, Evidence, and Land Stewardship—to deliver joined-up, impactful environmental action.

What you will do

• Provide terrestrial ornithological advice to NRW’s Development Planning Advisory Service on planning applications, drawing on a range and interpretation of complex information and data sources.
• Provide advice to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects or complex high-risk casework ensuring advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Manage the development of guidance, procedures and tools and lead the delivery of new ways of working to support NRW’s planning service.
• Manage the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, statutory advice and guidance documents.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence needs and opportunities and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, JNCC and other Environment bodies in the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Maintain knowledge of the technical specialist area identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• 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.
• Required to take part in incident response activities.

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. Detailed knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to terrestrial ornithology and development planning; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in biodiversity; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. A recognised qualification, degree or equivalent experience relevant to the role (i,e biological or environmental science)
3. Excellent knowledge and experience of the ecology and conservation of Welsh terrestrial birds and approaches to mitigation and compensation for development planning.
4. Ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with stakeholders at all management levels.
5. Experience of technical analysis and interpretation of a range of complex environmental information and data sources; analysing large data sets.
6. Experience of working with/in statutory nature conservation bodies, local authorities, eNGOs and public bodies.
7. Good written and spoken communication skills and an ability to represent both the technical and strategic aspects of Protected Species work to non-specialists, both within NRW and externally, in a concise and effective way.
8. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
9. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.

Welsh Language Level requirements:

• Desirable: A1 – Entry level

Welsh language levels

Please note if you do not meet the level 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.

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time.