Hydrology and Water Resource Management Specialist

As Lead Specialist Advisor for Hydrology and Water Resource Management at Natural Resources Wales (NRW) you will be a highly skilled hydrology and water resource management specialist working as our technical expert across North Wales and the Upper Severn region, with particular focus on the River Dee and River Severn Regulation Schemes.

In this pivotal role, you'll lead on, and be involved in, a range of complex work programmes helping to safeguard water resources for people and for nature. From advising on day-to-day operations to contributing to national infrastructure projects and environmental improvement initiatives, your expertise will shape the future of water management in Wales.

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 Rob Bissell ([email protected])

Interviews will take place in person at the Natural Resources Wales Office in Buckley on 14/10/2025.

About us

You’ll be joining the Hydrology, Geomorphology and Water Resources Management Team in North Wales, within our Flood and Water Management Department. We are a large multi-functional team that covers North and Mid Wales. You’ll be working on some of Wales most iconic rivers including the Dee and Severn.

What you will do

• NRW Lead on all technical hydrology matters associated with the River Severn Regulation Scheme, from operational management to national infrastructure projects. Ensure that NRW interests are considered in tactical and strategic decision making at local and national levels.
• Lead on, and provide expert technical input to, a range of strategic and tactical projects associated with the River Dee Regulation Scheme. This includes flood and water resource modelling projects, capital schemes, environmental investigations, and improvement projects.
• NRW Lead on various Section 20 (Water Resources Act) schemes, working with water companies and the Environment Agency to maintain, review and update operating agreements, manuals and guidelines. Deliver on NRW’s regulatory commitments and ensure the best outcomes possible for the environment.
• Work closely with and influence a broad range of internal and external stakeholders on complex and often politically charged matters.
• Represent NRW on relevant technical/strategic groups and external forums. These types of groups will agree sector specific regulatory strategy at a Wales, UK or European level.
• Lead and mentor staff and plan, monitor and manage resources to deliver workplans and programmes to budget and timescale.
• Ensure all work programmes are delivered without risk to any team or individual, putting health and safety at the heart of what you do.
• Provide expert advice at Strategic and Tactical Command with multi agency response teams
• 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

Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following criteria both at shortlisting and interview. In your job application please demonstrate, using the STAR method, how you meet the requirements outlined below.

1. Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant science/engineering discipline (e.g. physical geography, environmental science, civil engineering). Or significant related vocational experience.
2. Member or working towards membership of a relevant professional body.
3. Extensive knowledge and substantial operational experience in the field of hydrology and water resources management.
4. Experience in water resource modelling (e.g. Aquator software, Pywr) would be an advantage, but not essential.
5. Ability to communicate effectively with a range of internal and external stakeholders, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing others.
6. Demonstrable ability to provide innovative and effective solutions to problems, and identify and challenge inappropriate solutions.
7. Experience in programme/project management.
8. Understanding NRW’s key duties and responsibilities and how the hydrology service supports them.
9. Must have a full UK driving licence. 

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 level 1 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. 

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