Planning Service Transformation Advisor

Closing Date: 15 June 2025 | Salary: ​Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877​ per annum | Location: Flexible

Team / Directorate: Planning, Landscape, & Energy, Evidence, Policy & Permitting

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)

Post number: 203897

The role

Do you have a passion for improving public services and the skills to lead transformational change? We’re looking for a strategic thinker to lead the delivery of our Planning Service Strategy, helping shape a resilient and future-ready development planning function within Natural Resources Wales (NRW). 

As Lead Specialist Advisor for Planning Service Transformation, you’ll take ownership of a programme of continuous improvement, developing practical solutions to enhance how we support sustainable development through the planning system. You’ll design and deliver key outputs, including tools, guidance, and policy positions, and coordinate cross-team collaboration to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery. 

You’ll work closely with internal specialists across regulation, policy and operations, and act as a key liaison with Welsh Government and other external stakeholders to ensure our approach aligns with national priorities. 

Key responsibilities include: 

  • Leading the delivery of NRW’s Planning Service Strategy and transformation programme. 

  • Identifying and implementing opportunities for continuous improvement across our land use planning services. 

  • Developing tools, guidance and policy to support a consistent, resilient planning function. 

  • Collaborating with internal teams and managing strategic relationships with Welsh Government and planning stakeholders. 

  • Translating government policy into operational practice to support sustainable, evidence-based planning outcomes. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to lead meaningful change in one of Wales’ most important environmental planning services. If you're ready to shape the future of land use planning in a dynamic, collaborative organisation – we’d love to hear from you. 

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Adrian James at Adrian.james@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

What you will do

  • Lead and project manage NRW’s programme for the transformation and continuous improvement  of its development planning service by identifying specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, tools, plans, programmes and manage their delivery, as well as  support on casework that is novel, contentious or of high public interest. 
  • Lead the development of Guidance for NRW staff and for sectors/partners. 
  • Provide advice to WG and other bodies in Wales and the UK as appropriate, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies. 
  • Retain ownership and oversight of the land use planning area to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government and UK Government. 
  • Prepare compelling cases for change to NRW policy and role of alternative interventions. 
  • Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme. 
  • Commission engagement plans and training to support roll out of outputs to NRW staff and partners/sectors. 
  • Commission monitoring and evaluation of interventions to inform assessment of the need for change in approach by NRW and/or WG. 
  • Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the assigned sector(s) identifying the implications of legislative, technology and market changes for Natural Resources Wales and the sector(s). 
  • Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required. 
  • Steer the overview and ownership of engagement with Welsh Government on the specific policy areas related to land use planning. 
  • 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. 

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. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to land use and spatial planning. Welsh, UK Government policy drivers and strategies relevant to land use and spatial planning and the issues and opportunities in Wales. 
  2. Knowledge and practical understanding of the range of partners and stakeholders involved with land use planning in Wales. 
  3. Experience of: in-depth understanding of one or more of the following topics; land use planning including development plans and Development Management, spatial planning, environmental assessment (including SEA, HRA, WFD and EIA) processes.  
  4. Working with Welsh Government, PEDW, PINS, Local Planning Authorities, professional bodies business and sectors. 
  5. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.  
  6. You will be a member of the RTPI /other environmental professional body   and/ or working towards membership.  
  7. Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena. 
  8. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required. 

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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