Welsh Government has provided NRW with capital funding to support a portfolio of investment to improve nature in 2020-21 across five broad programmes. Funding has been allocated to support the delivery of year 1 of a National Action Programme for Welsh Peatlands. This programme is to restore peatland ecosystems across Wales to achieve biodiversity and other environmental benefits, thus contributing to the Ministerial Commitment to bring all areas of peatlands in Wales under favourable management, as well as wider policy drivers relating to increasing the resilience of ecosystems in order to achieve the sustainable management of natural resources, and Welsh Government’s decarbonisation agenda.
In this post you will be responsible for coordinating and managing the delivery of a wide range of large scale peatland restoration capital works projects across Wales, providing technical advice on the implementation of the peatland programme. You will be supported in this work by a Peatlands Programme Project Manager located in the Terrestrial Ecosystems and Species Team and a Peatlands Programme Grants Officer located in People and Places North West Wales. You will work closely with staff across NRW including procurement, land management and people and places teams, and also with external partners.
Where this role sits
People and Places North West Wales
Applying for this post
The following categories will be used to assess the quality of applications both at sift and interview. Please read the whole of the Role Description to ascertain at what level this information needs to be presented.
- Forward Thinking
- Analysing and Judgement
- Collaborating with others
- Advising and Influencing
- Managing Resources (non-financial and/or financial)
- Customer Focus
- Qualifications and Skills
Role Description
Job Purpose:
As the Project Officer for the National Action Programme for Peatlands you will lead on coordinating and managing the delivery of a wide range of large-scale peatland restoration capital works projects across Wales. You will provide technical advice to colleagues within NRW and external contractors, including projects developed and led by the post-holder and other NRW staff, and projects delivered by a wide range of partners in Wales through the Strategic Allocated Funding grant mechanism.
You will plan and implement restoration works and contribute to reporting programmes,
Together with other National Action Programme staff you will work to ensure the delivery of the project objectives and targets and in reporting progress according to agreed milestones. You will ensure good governance of the project, including strict adherence to NRW’s procurement and wellbeing, health and safety practices.
As a technical specialist lead the post-holder will interpret legislation using experience and technical knowledge, to implement and inform development of National Action Programme for Peatlands policy and procedures, techniques and methods of working.
Key Job Accountabilities:
The post holder will:
- Lead and co-ordinate specialist technical advice and guidance from a range of sources; ensure that decisions are based on sound technical judgement, in line with current legislation and best practice.
- Work with other project team members, other NRW staff and external stakeholders, to plan and develop the detailed programme of site restoration, assessing the technical requirement for a wide range of restoration projects and produce technical specifications to be followed by contractors.
- Work with the Peatlands Programme Procurement & Grants Officer post to tender and let projects in a timely manner and in full accordance with NRW Policies and Procedures.
Undertake field-based supervision of contractors, ensuring liaison with owner/occupiers, other NRW staff and partners staff.
- Ensure that all necessary consents for project delivery works are in place, including (where relevant) European Protected Species Consents, SSSI consents, Ordinary Water Course Consents, Flood Risk Approvals and Planning consents.
- Develop and manage multiple and overlapping contracts covering all aspects of the project, ensuring that project specifications and project delivery are consistent and compliant with NRW H&S and project delivery policy, including adherence to CDM regulations where relevant.
- Support other NRW staff in designing, procuring and managing restoration contracts in cases where these staff are leading on project delivery.
- Maintain detailed records of progress with programme implementation to support reporting. Present and share results and learning via written reports and other methods. Contribute to regular progress reports and updates led by the Programme Manager.
- With the support of other NRW and partner staff, produce a standardised project assessment and monitoring proforma and implement it/promote its use by others to ensure all projects benefit from a standardised baseline assessment.
- Attend and actively contribute to regular meetings of the National Action Framework Nat team, and supporting the Team Leader at Project Board and Steering Group meetings.
- Manage the budget allocated to project elements you are responsible for and maintain relationships with third party suppliers to meet value for money and spend profile requirements.
- Support project delivery by partners engaged through the Strategic Allocated Funding Mechanism, including the provision of technical and logistical support and scrutiny of proposed approaches to ensure optimal restoration outcomes.
- Work with Environment and Land Management Team staff, tenants and Landowners to help deliver Management Agreements.
- Collaborate with the Team Leader to develop and deliver an agreed Personal Development Plan.
Key Job Qualifications or Knowledge:
You will have:
- Detailed knowledge of the conservation of peatland ecosystems, the Welsh, UK and EU legislation and the consenting requirements associated with working on protected sites.
- Experience of developing, procuring and field-managing large scale, complex projects involving restoration groundworks projects.
- Experience of using GIS systems to plan and record project activities.
- A degree in a biological, environmental science, geographical or earth science subject or relevant experience in discipline.
- Experience of assessing the condition and restoration requirements of peatland ecosystems.
- Expertise in work planning, budgeting and contract management.
- Excellent report writing skills, and knowledge and experience of implementing relevant UK and European legislation.
- Experience of effective communications with a wide range if partners, ranging from individual land managers/owners and occupiers through to key strategic partners.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others and also independently with high standards of governance, demonstrating personal initiative and good organisational skills.
- The ability to currently and legally drive a car in the UK.
- Member of professional body (desired).
What you will do
- You will provide technical/specialist expertise in a range of subjects as part of a professional enabling service which is involved in the delivery and improvement of enabling services to develop and support the organisation, and its partners in corporate compliance, planning, performance, policy and strategy.
- You will undertake practical or technical tasks requiring in depth specialist knowledge/ expertise and will provide objective advice to others.
- You will analyse and interpret a range of complex information relevant to your specialist area and communicate this to others, contributing to the development of NRW policy and strategy.
- You will undertake research as required and will produce documents that provide advice, guidance or opinion which others will use and act upon.
- You will manage medium sized projects.
- You will be involved in the development of organisational policy and will have some autonomy in relation to implementation of organisational policy.
- You will influence the work of others through your actions and decision making, the impact of which will be both internal and external.
- You may have a delegated budget.
- You will review the validity of documentation relating to the procurement of goods and services.
Who you will be working with
- You will work with people across the organisation for the efficient delivery of policy and work plans.
- You may also interact with people and organisations external to NRW.
- You will facilitate and deliver presentations for internal and external meetings, providing advice, as required.
- You will work with other specialist/technical staff and will lead them through non-complex specialist/technical programmes of work, through a matrix management approach.
- You will act as a mentor to less experienced colleagues.
Where you will be working
Your role will be primarily office based but may entail travel between different NRW locations, as well as working at partner organisations and other premises.
What knowledge and skills you need
- You will have a recognised qualification, degree or equivalent experience.
- You will have substantial experience working in the field relevant to your role with experience across a range of roles or in different roles within an organisation.
- You will have specialist/technical knowledge in a range of subjects within your field.
- You will remain up to date with developments in your technical or specialist field.
- You will have the ability to manage small programmes and/or projects.
- You will have analytical skills enabling you to analyse and interpret a range of complex information.
What other information is relevant to your job
You will realise your contribution by applying the principles of SMNR to your work; in how you think, plan and deliver activities.
You will be expected to work with teams and individuals from across NRW, sharing your expertise and insight to solve complex problems. You will support collaborative working with partners and sector organisations, focussing on shared priorities.
You are responsible for complying with the policies, procedures and processes that relate to your role.
You are responsible for ensuring that all financial transactions undertaken by yourself represent value for money and meet the requirements of the organisation.
NRW is a Category 1 responder under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004), and this means we have a duty to work with partners to prepare for and respond to emergencies and incidents covered by the Act. All staff may be required to undertake activities, at a level commensurate with the skills and experience required by their role, to assist in ensuring this duty is undertaken.
This role description sets out a broad indication of the role, where it sits within the overall NRW structure and indicative expectations of the post holder. It is not intended to provide a detailed description of all tasks and activities. This document should be read in conjunction with the job specific Personal Development Plan which sets out the specific activities and projects to be delivered during the year.
Before applying for this role please read the candidate guidance
Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability and we have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
We are an employer of choice because we put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.
