Team / Directorate: Waste Once in Operations / Operations

Starting salary: £28,932 rising to £30,955 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Fixed Term until 31/03/2026 with a possibility of a 12-month extension.

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

Interview date: 07/07/2025

Post number: 203542, 203543, 203544, 203545, 203546, 203547

The role
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting six paid placement opportunities starting in September 2025. These are specifically for soon to be or recent graduates in an environmental, sustainability or related discipline.

Are you passionate about protecting Wales's natural resources? Do you want to help deliver Wales's commitments to reach zero waste by 2050 and reduce our carbon emissions? Then this is the time to join us. Welsh Government's 'Beyond Recycling Strategy' is a plan to make a circular economy in Wales a reality, and highlights that our pathway towards a zero waste, low carbon economy has never been more important. It is an exciting time for waste regulation.

The four UK Governments are introducing a Digital Waste Tracking system that will revolutionise the way in which waste is tracked, cracking down on waste crime and helping Wales manage its waste more sustainably.

The placements will play a crucial role in helping us embed and regulate the new requirements. Through application of our Regulatory Principles, you will ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, support proportionate action and achieve multiple benefits from our regulatory interventions.

If successful, you will work alongside other regulatory officers and higher education placements in the Waste Once in Operations Team in our Operations Directorate. You will be provided with a full training package and will be mentored by teams and colleagues across Wales who are responsible for delivering waste policy and regulation. You will work independently and alongside our staff to experience a diverse range of opportunities and practices to protect and enhance the environment via a combination of office and field-based activities.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Katie Jones at .

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

The interviews will take place on 07/07/25.

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

Provide advice and guidance to businesses, public and third sector organisations to raise awareness and encourage compliance with the requirements of the regulations.
Assist with monitoring and data collection to target activities and assess compliance.
Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
Develop and maintain systems to record and track compliance and ensure issues are escalated.
Where non-compliance is identified, support appropriate interventions to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible, with minimum environmental impact and consideration of the economic impacts.
Manage health and safety issues on a day-to-day basis and contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture.
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 .
An Undergraduate degree (or higher-level qualification) in an environmental and sustainability related discipline from a higher education institution. A good understanding of waste management principles and related legislation, including NRW's remit and Welsh Government's ambition for recycling and the circular economy. Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and organisations, explaining the requirements and influencing positively to improve compliance. Good ICT skills.
Welsh language level requirements

Essential: A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greeting, no conversational Welsh)
Desirable: B2 - Upper Intermediate Level (able to understand and discuss familiar work related matters)

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.

Natural Resources Wales

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