Environment Officer - Conservation

Overview

The role

We are offering an exciting opportunity to join our South Powys Environment Team on a permanent basis as an Environment Officer. We are looking for a confident and motivated individual with strong communication and influencing skills who can make a real impact. You will work across Powys to ensure compliance with relative legislation and permits, give advice and help improve the environment.

You will help deliver Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) on the ground by bringing technical expertise to the team's varied work. A key part of the role involves managing protected sites through assessing activities, offering expert advice, developing management agreements and working closely with partners to secure positive outcomes. You will contribute to NRW's biodiversity objectives by providing internal ecological advice and helping deliver or support mitigation schemes and projects that protect and enhance the natural environment.

This is a chance to make a meaningful impact across some of Wales  most valued landscapes while working as part of a supportive, knowledgeable, and committed team.

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.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact Jenny Phillips at Jenny.phillips

Interviews will be face to face week commencing 13/04/2026 (details of location will be shared in advance).

Successful applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. Appointments are normally made within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About us

This role is based at Mid Wales Place and will support the delivery of a planned programme of work across South Powys. As part of our multidisciplinary Environment Team, you ll work alongside colleagues specialising in environmental regulation and the management of designated sites. Together, you will help achieve outcomes that contribute directly to NRW s corporate plan and our wider environmental ambitions.

Based in Llandrindod Wells, covering a stunning and diverse area from the south of Rhayader to Ystradgynlais, including Bannau Brycheiniog, the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains, and important designated sites such as the River Wye and River Usk Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

What you will do

• Draft valid consents and assents for operations affecting protected sites. For all work areas produce required advice, investigations, documentation and reports to agreed quality standards to support operational and management decisions, protected site notification, public enquiries, court cases etc so that information, evidence and NRW interests are accurately and effectively presented.
• Within your area of expertise, provide professional local advice and responses to consultations from planning and permitting teams. Maintain working relationships with these teams through regular liaison.
• Monitor progress of work, which may include interpretation of data, contractor management, project delivery or compliance with management agreements or statutory legal notices. Identify and support any remedial actions to ensure outcome delivery.
• Work with a wide range of internal and external customers including permit holders, landowners, businesses, public bodies, recreation groups, volunteers and third sector organisations to enable others to achieve SMNR.
• Establish, maintain and advise partners to support the development of partnership projects and plans through from concepts to implementation. These projects will deliver outcomes aligned with place priorities.
• Assess compliance with relevant legislation, permit or consent conditions. Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure a return to compliance as quickly as possible. Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Play a role in a resilient NRW Incident Management Service…