Development Planning Advisor

Development Planning Advisor

Closing Date: 25/08/2025

Salary: Grade 5: £36,246 - £39,942

Location: (200029) Flexible, (202787) Bangor

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)

Interview Date: Week Commencing 15/09/2025

Post number: 200029, 202787

The role

Are you passionate about shaping sustainable development in Wales? Do you want to help safeguard our natural resources while playing a key role in planning the places where we live, work, and thrive?

We're looking for two Development Planning Advisors to join our expert team within Natural Resources Wales. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals with experience in environmental assessment or the town and country planning system who are ready to make a real impact.

You'll provide authoritative environmental advice to Local Planning Authorities and other stakeholders, helping to shape everything from housing and infrastructure to energy and agriculture. Your work will influence both strategic development plans and individual planning applications, covering topics such as flood risk, biodiversity, water quality, landscape, and more.

You'll engage with a wide variety of development proposals-from national infrastructure projects to local regeneration schemes-and work alongside technical specialists across NRW to deliver evidence-based, timely, and effective input.

This is a varied and rewarding role, ideal for someone who enjoys collaboration, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and is confident communicating complex issues to a range of audiences. Your advice will help ensure that development in Wales is sustainable, resilient, and aligned with our environmental responsibilities.

We offer a supportive, flexible working environment including hybrid options, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to influence real-world outcomes that benefit people and nature alike.

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.

What you will do

• Produce Advice to Local Development Plans, including advice on their Strategic Environmental Assessment (with the support of the Development Planning Advisor (6) on technically complex, high-risk proposals) ensuring the advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Produce Advice to preapplication enquiries, development management consultations, Development of National Significance and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (with the support of the Development Planning Advisor (6) on technically complex, high-risk development proposals) ensuring NRW advice is robust, evidence based and delivered to deadline.
• Preparation of information in relation to challenges against NRW development planning advice, including attendance at Appeals and Inquiries.
• Development of effective customer relationships (internal and external) and ensuring a good understanding of customer needs.
• Identify opportunities to influence local Development projects and plans at the earliest opportunity.
• Maintain auditable records of actions and outcomes to justify and demonstrate that all legal and procedural requirements have been met.
• 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).

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. Experience in development planning processes and working with the development sector.
2. Experience of applying and reviewing environmental impact assessments.
3. Able to communicate effectively with Local Planning Authorities, business and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.
4. Strong and effective self-management and organisational skills.
5. Able to analyse complex information and situations, solve problems and make sound judgements.
6. Able to write clear, concise documents.
7. Able to work well as part of a team and lead virtual task groups.