Location
Flexible in Mid Wales & North Wales

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

Salary
Grade 7: £45,367 - £50,877

About the Role
As Lead Specialist Advisor for Hydrology and Water Resource Management at Natural Resources Wales (NRW), you will be a highly skilled technical expert working across North Wales and the Upper Severn region, with particular focus on the River Dee and River Severn Regulation Schemes. In this pivotal role, you will lead and contribute to a range of complex work programmes aimed at safeguarding water resources for people and nature. Your expertise will influence day-to-day operations, national infrastructure projects, and environmental improvement initiatives, shaping the future of water management in Wales.

NRW supports flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the stated location and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed upon appointment. Regular face-to-face meetings or training will be planned in advance. Interviews will take place in person at the Natural Resources Wales Office in Buckley on 14/10/2025.

You will join the Hydrology, Geomorphology and Water Resources Management Team in North Wales, part of the Flood and Water Management Department. This large multi-functional team covers North and Mid Wales, working on some of Wales’ most iconic rivers including the Dee and Severn.

Experience
- Extensive knowledge and substantial operational experience in hydrology and water resources management.
- Experience in water resource modelling (e.g. Aquator software, Pywr) is advantageous but not essential.
- Experience in programme and project management.
- Ability to communicate complex issues effectively to a range of internal and external stakeholders and influence outcomes.
- Demonstrable ability to provide innovative and effective solutions and challenge inappropriate ones.
- Understanding of NRW’s key duties and how the hydrology service supports them.
- Must have a full UK driving licence.

About you
You will be a highly motivated and skilled specialist with the ability to lead and mentor staff, plan and manage resources to deliver workplans on time and within budget. You will be committed to health and safety, equality, diversity, and your own professional development. You will be confident representing NRW on technical and strategic groups at Wales, UK, or European levels and able to work collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders on complex and politically sensitive matters.

Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline (e.g. physical geography, environmental science, civil engineering) or significant related vocational experience.
- Member of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body.