Contract type: Temporary 12-month Higher Education Placement
Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Post number: 203127
As an organisation we support flexible working. This role allows hybrid working (a mix of home and office working) and a working pattern suitable for you can be discussed on appointment if you are successful.
You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home, of which you will be required to attend for regular meetings, training and for one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.
Job description
Natural resources in Wales are fantastic – rugged mountains and woodlands, beautiful landscapes and coastlines, and amazing wildlife.
They are vital for our survival and provide us with the basic things we need to live: clean air, clean water, and food. They create jobs for thousands of people like farmers, foresters, and tourist operators, creating wealth and prosperity.
They give us all a better quality of life and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors against a backdrop of Wales’ natural beauty and heritage. People come from far and wide to experience them. They are intrinsically linked with Welsh culture and language.
It’s our job in Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to look after these natural resources and what they provide for us: to help reduce the risk to people and properties of flooding and pollution; to look after special places for well-being, wildlife and timber; and to work with others to help us all to manage them sustainably. The people who work here in NRW have the knowledge, expertise, and passion to help make the sustainable management of natural resources a reality.
About the Flood and Coastal Risk Management (FCRM) Further Education Placement programme
The climate emergency is something that will affect us all. It’s predicted that Wales can expect more severe and frequent storms, higher sea-levels, and increased rates of coastal erosion in the future.
To make sure that we’re in the best shape we can be to meet these future challenges and protect communities across Wales from flooding, our FCRM team are looking to develop the next crop of flood risk management specialists.
We have four exciting 12 month paid placement opportunities available for students who have recently qualified at HNC, HND and degree level, or are undertaking a mid-year placement as part a relevant degree related to flood risk management.
About the Role
This is a Higher Education Placement role for someone who has recently qualified (within the last 18 months) at HNC/HND or degree level or is currently undertaking a sandwich course degree requiring a year in industry. The subject studied should be in a flood risk management related area such as engineering, geography or natural hazard management.
This is a challenging and interesting placement opportunity taking place in a variety of settings. You will be supporting the work of the Flood Risk Analysis (FRA) team. A major part of your role will involve working with senior members of the team in carrying out site visits, survey work and data collection, including post flood event surveys.
You will then use the information collected in creating and maintaining flood risk GIS data sets including new and historic flood outlines. You will also provide an important service to the public by assisting with customer enquiries and requests for flood risk management data.
You will also see how the work of the FRA team benefits other areas of flood risk management by spending part of your placement in the Development and Flood Risk (DFR) team, where you will assist with Flood Risk Activity Permit consultations and registering exemptions for flood risk activities.
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include:
- Support delivery of work plans, created by the team, which contributes towards the delivery of business plans.
- Assist with site visits, survey work and data collection, including post flood event surveys.
- Maintain records and information in line with regulations/legislation and agreed standards.
- Work on maintenance and creation of flood risk GIS data sets – flood outline & historic outline etc
- Assist with customer enquiries and requests for flood risk management data in accordance with our customer charter
- Assist with Flood Risk Activity Permit internal consultations
- Assist with registering Exemptions for flood risk activities: environmental permits
- Participate in external meetings with other members of the team.
- Other work as directed by the line manager.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
Knowledge and experience of the following:
- Recently qualified (within the last 18 months), at HNC/HND or degree level, or currently undertaking an undergraduate sandwich degree course requiring a year in industry. The subject studied should be in a flood risk management related area such as engineering, geography or natural hazard management.
- A good understanding of flood risk management principles and techniques is required.
- Good communication and inter-personal skills with a customer focus. Ability to build effective working relationship with colleagues and partners.
- Knowledge of GIS applications (ArcMap and/or QGIS)
- Good ICT skills (Essential)
Welsh language requirements
Essential: Level 1 – able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases
Please note if you do not meet the level 1 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.
Competencies
Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following competencies, both at shortlisting and interview. Please give examples of how you demonstrate these competencies when completing your application form.
| Essential Knowledge and Skills | The post holder has gained knowledge and skills, through prior practical work experience, so that they have a reasonable level of technical competence to fulfil the requirements of the role.The post holder will have good literacy, numerical and communication skills. They will have an understanding of health and safety requirements and implications in relation to work activity. |
| Evaluation of Information | The use of information within this role will be straight forward, easily understood and from readily available resources.The post holder will need to be able to check, validate, gather, collect and record data requiring some degree of accuracy.Documentation is routine and standard, in terms of understanding or completion. |
| Decision Making and Autonomy Requirements | The post holder’s work is typically routine in nature and will follow an agreed work plan, with little requirement to deviate, apart from prioritising of tasks.Some problems encountered may require an element of initiative or judgment, although solutions will be based on previous knowledge, experience, known solutions and outcomes. Decision making and autonomy is relatively limited. |
| Impact | The work undertaken is within a discrete area, so any impact primarily affects others within the team. Some aspects of the work have the potential, if carried out incorrectly, to have a low impact on third parties. The impact would be known immediately, and rectified and addressed quickly without any longer-term issues arising. |
| Communication and Relationships with Others | Communication will be with colleagues carrying out both similar and different aspects of work. This may include leading on some aspects of work requiring the ability to give clear guidance or instruction if necessary.There will be contact with the general public and third parties, which will entail exchanging information.Written communication will include the completion of standard documentation and record keeping requiring good IT skills. |
Benefits of working for us
This role will offer a range of benefits, including:
- Agile and flexible working (role dependent)
- Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 26.6% to 30.3%
- 28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days
- Generous leave entitlements for all your life needs
- Health and wellbeing benefits and support
- Weekly well-being hour to use at your choice
See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.
How to apply
Please send a completed Application form to Applications@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk using the post number as the email reference
Before completing your application, please read our Guidance on completing a job application form
Application closing date 31 January 2023
Interviews will take place in February 2023 through Microsoft Teams
If you have any queries about the role, please contact Richard Derrick at Richard.Derrick@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented, including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability. We have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.
