Help protect Wales for future generations – join our Central Enforcement team
At Natural Resources Wales (NRW) we’re working towards a future where pollution is minimised, nature is recovering and communities are more resilient to climate change.
Protecting Wales’s environment requires more than regulation alone. It takes skilled professionals who can investigate environmental offences, gather evidence, challenge non-compliance and work with partners to take effective action against those that cause harm.
As Operations Manager, I work with colleagues across a range of enforcement and specialist roles and see first-hand the difference they make every day. Through regulation, intelligence gathering, investigations and enforcement activity, they help protect communities, safeguard natural resources and hold offenders to account.
We’re now recruiting for several exciting roles across Wales and we’re looking for people who want to be part of that important work.
How you’ll be making a difference
Environmental crime can have serious consequences for people, places and wildlife across Wales. It can pollute rivers, land and air, damage habitats and species, threaten public health, undermine legitimate businesses and leave communities facing significant clean up costs.
That’s why effective enforcement is an important part of the work we do.
Our teams help ensure environmental laws and regulations are followed, preventing harm and taking action when offences occur. Working alongside operational teams, legal colleagues and external partners, they gather intelligence, investigate offences and take proportionate action to hold offenders to account.
Intelligence-led working sits at the heart of much of this activity, Our teams analyse information from multiple sources, identify patterns and emerging risks, and assess complex evidence.
Environmental crime rarely stops at organisational boundaries. We work closely with police forces, local authorities, the Environment Agency, Welsh Government and other enforcement bodies, sharing intelligence and coordinating activity to tackle offending more effectively.
No two days are the same
From pollution incidents and illegal waste operations to fisheries offences, unlawful felling, damage to protected habitats and wider regulatory breaches, our work covers a broad range of environmental issues.
One day you could be supporting an investigation into a suspected illegal waste site, gathering evidence and reviewing intelligence. The next, you might be working with partner organisations on a coordinated enforcement operation, preparing case files for legal proceedings or helping build evidence that supports prosecution action.
Waste crime remain one of our key enforcement priorities. Our teams play an important role in preventing and disrupting illegal waste activity, gathering and analysing intelligence and investigating individuals and organised criminal networks that profit from environmental offending.
The work can be challenging, demanding and sometimes unpredictable. It requires professionalism, integrity and sound judgement, particularly when dealing with complex investigations or difficult conversations. But it’s also highly rewarding.
Some of our recent enforcement outcomes have included prosecutions for waste offences, action taken against those responsible for damage to protected habitats and offences linked to illegal cockle gathering.
Every investigation contributes to protecting Wales’s environment and communities.
Do you think you have what it takes?
We’re looking for people from a range of backgrounds who share our commitment to protecting Wales’s natural resources.
These roles may appeal to people with experience in enforcement, compliance, intelligence, investigation, regulation and environmental management of related fields.
However, just as important are the skills, behaviours and mindset you bring.
We are looking for people who:
- Are naturally curious and enjoy solving problems
- Can analyse information from multiple sources and identify patterns or risks
- Have the confidence to challenge non-compliance appropriately
- Demonstrate integrity and professionalism in their decision-making
- Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing
- Can build strong relationships and work collaboratively with partners
- Remain resilient when dealing with challenging situations
- Have strong attention to detail and can apply environmental legislation fairly and consistently
Whether your strengths lies in intelligence, investigation, enforcement, regulation or partnership working, you’ll play an important role in helping protect Wales’s environment.
If you’re looking for a role where your work genuinely matters, where every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn, and where you can make a tangible difference to communities and the environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Current opportunities
More roles will go live over the coming weeks, and will be advertised below and on our jobs page. Keep an eye out for further details.