Marine Energy Lead Advisor
Closing Date: 18 June 2025 | Salary: Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877 per annum | Location: Flexible
Team / Directorate: Marine & Coastal Policy & Planning, 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: 203914
The role
Are you passionate about the marine environment and supporting Wales’ transition to a low carbon economy? Do you have good experience in advising on policy and strategy for marine energy sectors, in particular offshore wind, and their effects on the marine environment? Then we have the job for you!
We are looking for someone with experience of making a difference through marine policy advice to join our Marine & Coastal Policy & Planning team, to help to address the climate and nature emergencies in Wales. The team leads on the development of, and advice on, strategies, policies, legislation, approaches and guidance, in relation to planning and management of the marine and coastal environment. We provide this advice internally and externally to Government, partners and marine and coastal sectors.
You will lead on NRW’s strategic marine energy advice, with a focus on offshore wind, to support sustainable, clean energy for Wales. This involves representing the marine policy area across NRW and representing NRW in Wales and across the UK. A key element of the role is providing strategic advice on offshore wind and other marine energy sectors to Welsh & UK Government,
The Crown Estate and other national stakeholders to inform and influence policies, plans and strategies.
We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and energetic professional to be part of a Wales wide team of marine experts.
If this sounds like you – apply now!
Specific areas of work include:
• Overseeing development of NRW’s strategic marine energy policy, advice, guidance and strategic evidence, with a particular focus on offshore wind.
• Maintaining an overview of marine energy sectors, and the policies, strategies and plans that govern them and forecasting and managing key risks and opportunities.
• Planning and prioritising NRW’s strategic offshore wind and wider marine energy work, and engaging with other marine industries colleagues to delivery against priorities.
• Mentoring and guiding the development of marine industries members of the team.
• Managing advisory liaison on strategic marine energy matters within NRW and externally with government, industry and other partners, ensuring NRW representation on key marine industry groups and fora.
• Providing strategic marine energy input to NRW governance structures, providing briefings/papers and ensuring appropriate managerial exposure.
Come and join our friendly workforce, benefit from our flexible working conditions, and be part of the solution to the climate and nature emergencies our world is facing.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office at the above location 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 Helen Bloomfield at helen.bloomfield@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk.
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 specific and complex issues that require development of NRW policies, strategies, plans, programmes including support on casework that is novel, contentious or of high public interest.
- Provide statutory advice to WG and other bodies in Wales as well as UK government departments with reserved marine responsibilities, and in-turn review and advise on the produced policy, plans and strategies.
- Retain ownership and oversight of the marine energy and other marine industries policy areas to ensure integrity of NRW approaches with Welsh Government, Central Government and EU Policy intent.
- Advise on evidence needs and opportunities, commission evidence & project manage evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
- Maintain a detailed working knowledge of the marine energy and other marine industries sectors 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 marine energy.
- Provide support to other team members working on marine energy sectors.
- 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.
- Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to the planning, management and regulation of the marine environment; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in the planning and management of marine energy and other marine industries sectors; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
- Knowledge and practical understanding of how to overcome the complex priorities, drivers and barriers faced by NRW, partners and stakeholders involved in delivering marine energy sectors outcomes in Wales.
- Experience of: In-depth understanding of the planning, management and regulation of marine energy sectors and the complex range of drivers and barriers to delivery.
- Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
- You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
- Representing the organisation in high profile and contentious issues in the public arena.
- Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting your colleagues, Directorate and Heads of Business as required.
Welsh language level requirements
- Essential: Level A1 – Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)
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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