Senior Operations Specialist

Team / Directorate: National Peatland Action Programme / Operations

Starting salary:  £52,268 rising to £57,726 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hour per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview date: Week commencing 26 May 2025

Post number: 203830

The role

Are you an experienced and dedicated professional with a passion for environmental conservation? We are seeking a Senior Specialist to lead the Operational aspects of the National Peatland Action Programme (NPAP), our mission to restore peatlands and shape a sustainable future.

In this pivotal role, you will work hand-in-hand with colleagues at NRW and partners across Wales, making a profound impact on peatland restoration efforts. Your expertise will be the driving force behind on-the-ground capital projects, guiding the operational NPAP teams and beyond.

By providing technical guidance and applying project management principles, you will play a crucial role in shaping and implementing long-term plans for peatland restoration. Together, we will pave the way for a sustainable, high-nature, low-carbon future.

Join us in this transformative journey and be a part of something truly meaningful and create a legacy of environmental stewardship for generations to come.

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

• Ensure appropriate governance for projects is in line with the NRW Portfolio Management Office process and procedures.  
• Lead the implementation of peatland habitat restoration across Wales, working closely with relevant colleagues in NRW. 
• Lead and provide technical expertise for the  project teams for complex projects with both internal and external project team members to achieve sustainable solutions. 
• Lead, project manage and provide technical expertise for specific and complex issues implicit in the delivery of the National Action Programme that require extensive liaison across NRW and with partner bodies, coupled with interpretation of and adherence to NRW policies, practices, strategies, plans and programmes. 
• Have oversight of the peatland restoration work area and process to ensure integrity of the project with NRW approaches with Welsh Government and Central Government supporting the ongoing development of the longer-term programme for Welsh Peatlands. 
• Serve as NRW’s client manager with external partners engaged through the agreed funding mechanism to ensure delivery of agreed objectives and overcome obstacles to delivery. 
• Ensure all capital projects are planned, managed and delivered in accordance with CDM and relevant Health and Safety legislation, and following H+S best practice for designing out, treating and managing risks in projects. 
• Ensure that Procurement Strategies for engaging external services comply with NRW’s ‘Managing our Money’ and consider NRW’s commercial liabilities to achieve best value.    
• Present complex issues to a range of key stakeholders including the public, community action groups, MPs and Senedd 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. Recognised professional/technical qualification or equivalent relevant knowledge in project management.  
2. Substantial knowledge of Welsh, UK and EU legislation regulatory and permitting mechanisms, policy drivers and practices related to biodiversity, and the management of large-scale groundworks projects. 
3. A technical expert in the field of peat restoration with experience of leading and directing multi-disciplinary project teams in complex capital works projects. 
4. In-depth knowledge of peatland restoration and management to provide objective advice to others on specialist issues.
5. UK full driving licence. 
    

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level C2 - Higher proficiency level (fluent in both spoken and written 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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