Water Quality Permitting Officer

Water Quality Permitting Officer

Closing Date: 31 August 2025

Salary: Grade 5: £36,246 - £39,942

Location: Cardiff

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: 201597

The role

The Water Quality Permitting Teams' primary role is to improve water quality by tackling pollution and supporting sustainable economic growth through determining applications for environmental permits and consents within statutory deadlines across the whole of Wales. Water Quality Permitting Officers work with water companies, industry, businesses and householders and help create a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment.

You will work within a team of 8 Permitting officers that work hybridly for the National Permitting Service covers the permitting and licencing of Waste, Industry, Marine, Water Resources, Forestry and Species licencing based in the Evidence, Policy and Permitting Directorate. The team is largely based in Cardiff and to build up technical skills there will be a need to attend the office in person to receive training and attend meetings as required.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to an NRW office within the place base / location above 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

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) prioritizes improving water quality through its corporate strategy, focusing on collaborative efforts and sustainable solutions to address pollution and ensure a secure water supply for the environment and people. NRW's strategy includes actions like implementing permitting water discharges, improving effluent monitoring, and working with partners to tackle pollution from various sources.

What you will do

• Determine the outcome of complex Environmental licence/permit applications through sound decision making for applications for their assigned regime by carrying out appropriate technical assessment in accordance with NRW policies and procedures where available, and issue, refuse or vary permits to time and budget.
• Determine applications using a range of technical guidance and technical software and/or modelling programmes as required by your assigned regime.
• Aid technical development of permitting officers within your assigned permitting team, through direct coaching and by supporting the delivery of the Technical Development Framework using your expertise in your related area.
• Represent the permitting team in your area of expertise on relevant internal technical groups, and internal/external stakeholder meetings.
• Act as lead for complex permit/licence determinations, including less complex nationally significant infrastructure projects.
• Co-ordinate and lead in preparing defence in relation to legal challenges against permit decisions.
• Provide technical support in your subject matter area to operational teams to include pre-application advice and support the delivery of structured training as required.
• Contribute to improved efficiency and performance of the permitting team, identify opportunities for changes to process and guidance and support a culture of continuous improvement for both your assigned regime and for across regime working.
• 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 the relevant legislation and how it relates to the permitting process.
2. Practical experience of assessing relevant licence/permit applications or using them in a compliance role.
3. Track record of delivering timely optimal solutions by effective information analysis and risked based decisions.
4. Experience of coaching and mentoring skills.
5. Experience of customer service delivery and the ability to influence and persuade to achieve environmental outcomes.
6. Experience of delivering process improvements/efficiencies.

Welsh language level requirements

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