Senior Industry & Waste Regulation Officer

The role

Join the North East Wales Industry & Waste Regulation Team and make a real difference to the environment. We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced

Senior Industry and Waste Regulation Officer to play a vital role in protecting and enhancing Wales' natural resources as part of Natural Resources Wales.

As a warranted officer, you will regulate a diverse portfolio of permitted sites across a range of industrial sectors, including chemicals, food and drink, metals, power generation, paper and textiles, cement and minerals, landfill, and waste treatment. You may also work alongside colleagues delivering interventions under theCOMAH (Control of Major Accident Hazards) Regulations at some of the highest-risk sites in Wales, or support the regulation of facilities using radioactive substances.

This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. Working independently and collaboratively, you will inspect regulated sites, assess compliance with Environmental Permits, and build strong professional relationships with operators. You will provide expert advice and guidance, drive environmental improvements, and take proportionate enforcement action where necessary to achieve positive environmental outcomes.

You will also be at the forefront of responding to environmental incidents, acting quickly and safely to investigate issues, assess impacts, and coordinate effective follow-up action.

We are looking for someone with significant experience in environmental regulation or within a regulated industry, a strong understanding of relevant environmental legislation, and a passion for delivering high standards of environmental protection. If you are ready to use your expertise to influence and improve environmental performance across a wide range of industries, we would love to hear from you.

Driving is essential to this role, due to site-based work, visiting and inspecting regulated sites across north and Mid Wales . This can be at short notice and on ad-hoc and unplanned basis. The role also requires the post holder to respond to incidents and complaints again these are unplanned and short notice and can vary in location and nature therefore you must hold a full and current UK driving licence.

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.

To make an informal enquiry about this role, please contact

Rhys Ellis at ***email_hidden***

Interviews will be face to face at the Buckley office week commencing 23 November 2026.

We take pride in working together to protect and enhance our environment. You'll be joining a fast-paced, supportive operational team that turns its hand to a wide variety of tasks. Alongside regulating permitted sites, we respond to environmental incidents, carry out routine inspections, and provide local advice and guidance to colleagues and partners. No two days are the same, and you'll play an active role in the work that makes a real difference to our environment and communities.

What You Will Do

• Assess compliance at installations, COMAH sites, waste sites and sites handling radioactive substances.
• Liaison with Counter Terrorism Security Advisors.
• Take appropriate actions to collect evidence for enforcement purposes, in accordance with defined procedures.
• Routinely lead our response to large or contentious cases/issues.
• Co-ordinate pre-application discussions with Operators and NRW Permitting Teams to aid timely, efficient and good quality permit variations, applications and surrenders.
• Where non-compliance is identified, determine and implement the most appropriate intervention option to ensure operators return to compliance as quickly as possible, with minimum environmental impact and consideration of the economic impacts.
• Work with Operators to develop medium-term regulatory strategies for the installations, including engagement with senior managers and executives within companies, to deliver multiple benefits.
• Be required to participate in technical/ strategic groups or represent NRW on external forums e.g. UK regulators' sector groups, as required.
• Contribute to NRW Sector Groups and cross-agency sector groups as required to aid adoption of consistent regulatory approaches and the dissemination of good practices to the benefit of the environment.
• Coaching and mentoring of team members.
• Contribute to a positive health, safety and well-being culture, undertaking 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).
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

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.

• Extensive knowledge and experience of either working in a regulated industry or as a regulator.
• Good understanding of commercial business processes and pressures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with regulated business and the public, explaining complex issues and gaining support by influencing.

Welsh Language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level

Welsh language levels

Please note if you do not meet the A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years' continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK . Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.

This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.

Please note that while we may be able to support the Certificate of Sponsorship required for a visa application, the organisation does not cover the cost of the visa itself, including any associated fees for dependants.

The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
• generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
• commitment to professional development
• health and wellbeing benefits and support
• weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

Please keep reading

We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equal opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We want to attract and retain talented and highly skilled staff, so we make sure that our pay scales remain competitive. We advertise the full pay scale on our job descriptions. Appointed candidates start at the first point of the pay scale and annual increments are paid each year.

We want our staff to grow professionally and personally. From leadership development to access to further and higher education courses, our staff have opportunities to expand their knowledge on variety of topics, stay current in their field and continue to learn as their career progresses.

We are a Bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards. Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW, and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills.

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English, and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who want to work full-time, part-time, or job share.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the closing date to apply.

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