Survey and Monitoring Team Leader

Team / Directorate: National Peatland Action Programme / Operations

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: Week commencing 2 June 2025

Post number: 203799

The role

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated professional to lead the all-Wales National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP) Survey and Monitoring Team. In this critical role, you will oversee the development, implementation, and delivery of peatland monitoring and assessment activities across Wales, providing essential data and reporting outputs that will directly contribute to the success of the NPAP and the broader Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) initiative.

As the Team Leader, you will take a leading role in coordinating the survey and monitoring efforts for peatlands, ensuring the collection of high-quality, scientifically robust data that informs key decision-making processes. Your work will underpin strategic conservation efforts, support the effective management of peatland ecosystems, and contribute to the achievement of Wales’ environmental goals, including biodiversity enhancement, carbon sequestration, and water quality improvement.

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 Mannon Lewis Mannon.Lewis@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk 

Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams 

Vetting checks may be required depending on the role. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 6 weeks of the closing date. 

 

What you will do

• Lead and develop staff to ensure team contributions to delivery of the NRW Service Plan and NPAP, as well as wider corporate and departmental priorities and objectives. 
• Lead the ongoing technical development of NPAPs monitoring methodologies in liaison with relevant colleagues in NRW.
• Support the development of common standards and best practice in terms of survey and monitoring through liaison with equivalent roles in the other UK country programmes and national peatland restoration initiatives.
• Be accountable for the well-being, development and performance of a large geographically dispersed team and adherence to NRW’s policies and procedures. Includes oversight of Health & Safety in high-risk environments.
• Inform the development of NRW’s Service Plan and NPAP with respect to monitoring, assessment and reporting requirements, as well as other relevant plans and strategies internally and externally.
• Maintain and develop technical knowledge in monitoring, assessment techniques and reporting in relation to peatland ecosystems  (including technological advances in the fields of remote sensing) in order to provide technical oversight for the work of the team, and provide technical advice (written, spoken and presentations) internally to colleagues and senior management on the remit of the team, including in high profile, controversial issues, working with the senior specialist advisor on peatlands.
• Work collaboratively across the NPAP Service and with wider departments and Directorates. 
• Manage a significant budget and multiple projects.
• Ensure the team maintains appropriate skills and specialisms across its members.
• 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 and that of your staff 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. Good knowledge and experience of terrestrial monitoring and assessment.
2. Experience of managing a large geographically dispersed team.
3. Coaching, mentoring and staff development skills.
4. Strong organisational, time management and interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to communicate effectively, explaining issues and gaining support by influencing, particularly with key stakeholders, and at senior level.
6. Experience of managing budgets.
7. Project management skills.
8. A recognised qualification, degree or equivalent experience.
9. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to water and environmental management and regulation, coastal and inland waters.

 

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

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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