Specialist Woodland Programme Implementation Advisor

Specialist Woodland Programme Implementation Advisor

Closing Date: 25 August 2025

Salary: Grade 6: £41,132 - £44,988

Location: Flexible

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: 15 September 2025

Post number: 202729

The role

As one of two Specialist Advisors within the Woodland Programme Team, you will play a vital role in guiding the delivery of the Welsh Government's Woodland Creation and Restoration grant schemes.

You will provide advice, direction and specialist technical services to ensure the verification processes for these schemes are robust, consistent, and aligned with the UK Forest Standard. Your work will help ensure that woodland projects across Wales are not only compliant but also deliver long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Working at the intersection of policy, practice, and evidence, you'll support colleagues across NRW and engage with landowners, agents, and external partners to uphold best practice in woodland management and restoration.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Wales' woodlands and contribute to national efforts on climate, biodiversity, and sustainable land use.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

About us

The Woodland Programme Team provides a verification service to Welsh Government; ensuring that applications to their Woodland Creation and Woodland Restoration schemes are compliant with the UK Forestry Standard and the scheme rules. The team sits in the Sustainable Land and Nature Group within the Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate. We are a Wales-wide team with staff based across the various Natural Resources Wales offices.

What you will do

• Prepare technical assessments, drawing on a range of complex information and data sources.
• Support the preparation of material to inform the development of NRW, WG and other Partners policy, statutory advice and guidance documents; Prepare the development of procedures, tools and guidance and lead the delivery of new ways of working.
• Liaise with external stakeholders such as Welsh Government, sector representatives and partners to ensure the timely and effective delivery of project, policy or strategy obligations.
• Advise on evidence gaps and project manage agreed evidence projects, in line with the agreed evidence programme.
• Support engagement with sectors, partners, WG, Confor and other Environment bodies in Wales and the UK; and be the lead point of contact for customer queries.
• Contribute to task and finish groups, commissioned through the Business Boards, to prepare defined products as required.
• 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).

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. Knowledge of: Welsh, UK and EU legislation related to forestry land management and agriculture; Welsh, UK Government policy drivers in land management including forestry and agriculture as set out in the WG Woodland programme; and the issues and opportunities in Wales.
2. Experience of: technical analysis and interpretation of a range of environmental information and data; including analysing large data sets.
3. Working with/in WG, across the forestry sector and other land management organisations.
4. Working in a programme and project management environment with Project Management experience and/or qualifications.
5. You will be a member of a relevant professional institution and/or working towards membership.
6. Share your knowledge and expertise to help solve problems, supporting all Heads of Business in EPP as required.

Welsh language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level (able to use and understand simple, basic phrases and greetings, no conversational Welsh)