Head of Natural Resource Management Advisory

The role

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the most strategically significant areas within Natural Resources Wales. As Head of Natural Resource Management Advisory, you will play a central role in shaping how Wales protects and enhances its inland water, land and marine ecosystems—now and for future generations.

You will lead the development of strategy, policy and advice across a wide portfolio, including biodiversity and conservation, climate change, energy, recreation and access, development planning, landscapes, and the integration of wellbeing and sustainability into our ways of working. You will also oversee our engagement with Public Service Boards and the delivery of Area Statements, ensuring our work is aligned with national priorities and local needs.

This is a leadership role with real breadth and influence. You will head a department of around 250 staff, manage a budget of approximately £29 million, and work closely with Welsh and UK Governments, partners and stakeholders to drive collaborative delivery. You will be responsible for integrating advice across disciplines to support NRW’s strategic priorities and outcomes, and for championing innovative approaches to policy and delivery.

As a member of NRW’s Leadership Team, you will help shape the organisation’s transformation, ensuring we remain effective, efficient and future-focused. You will work across directorates to connect policy with operational delivery, and ensure our work reflects the principles of the Well-being of Future Generations Act and the sustainable management of natural resources.

If you are a strategic thinker with deep expertise in environmental policy and a passion for collaborative leadership, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact for Wales’ people, places and natural environment.

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.

For a confidential conversation regarding this opportunity, please contact Odgers’ Wales Practice on 02920 783 050 or email us at [email protected]

Candidate pack

What you will do

• Lead strategic and environmental planning for environmental protection and resilience of inland water, land, and marine ecosystems across Wales.
• Lead on strategy, planning, policy and advice for how we deliver our objectives on biodiversity and conservation; climate change; the energy sector; recreation and access to the countryside; development planning and landscape; Public Service Boards and Area Statements; and embedding wellbeing of future generations and SMNR in our ways of working.
• Lead integration across all advice areas to support natural resource management strategic priorities and outcomes.
• Head up a department of approximately 250 staff with a budget of c£29m a year.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with Welsh & UK Governments and other bodies with responsibilities and interest in the policy and strategic planning functions listed.
• Support innovative approaches to delivery through both direct and enabling activities.
• Build constructive relationships with customers and partners to secure collaborative delivery of outcomes at local, regional and national level.
• Work with relevant Heads of Service, Operations and Business and other colleagues across NRW to lead delivery of outcomes set out in our Corporate Plan through integrated policy advice, strategy development and operational delivery.
• 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.
• You will be 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. Degree level qualification, or equivalent higher education qualification (or equivalent experience) and evidence of continuing development.
2. Extensive experience of working as part of a senior management team with experience of developing strategic direction and working with and influencing multiple stakeholders at a senior level.
3. Ability to communicate and influence effectively with a diverse range of audiences using a high standard of written and oral communication skills and able to use influence and persuasion to shape outcomes and gain support – both internally and externally.
4. An understanding of the wider political, economic, and business context, with the ability to apply this insight beyond their immediate professional discipline to inform strategic decision-making and policy development
5. Ability to lead with motivation through empowering others, driving organisational change, and embedding strategic priorities across teams, with sound judgement and a track record of successful decision-making in challenging contexts.
6. Ability to exercise good judgment and decision making, with a demonstrable track record of success.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: A1 – Entry level
• Desirable: C2 - Higher proficiency 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 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.