Job Location: Ty Cambria, Cardiff. The post holder will have pan Wales responsibilities and will be required to travel.

Job purpose

To provide technical support and advice on a range of hydrogeological issues to operational teams and customers.

Job responsibilities

The Technical Officer 1 Hydrogeologist will be part of a team responsible within the organisation for providing guidance and technical support to protect the quality and quantity of groundwater, help protect land and deal with the legacy of land contamination. The Geoscience team provides specialist advice within Natural Resources Wales to support its regulatory functions, for example through the planning regime where it assesses risks to groundwater from the development of land affected by contamination, the management of a groundwater level network and advising on groundwater pollution incidents and environmental permit queries.

Job specific responsibilities

• To provide technical support and advice on a range of groundwater and land contamination issues to internal regulatory teams and external partners
• Demonstrate the ability to disseminate technical information and data to a range of audiences ranging from technically proficient to non-technical
• Provide accurate and timely support for operational decisions and environmental regulation by carrying out analysis and interpretation of hydrogeological data, and preparation of reports from information and field investigations
• Able to apply your knowledge, experience and professional judgement to complex, novel and difficult technical and scientific concepts; including the critical review of technical reports such as hydrogeological risk assessment for landfills and water resource assessments (including abstraction licensing)
• Manage the delivery of scientific projects to improve our knowledge, or perform the role of project team member to assist in resolving issues and achieve outcomes
• Assess planning applications and development proposals (including industrial activities and quarries), and provide expert technical advice to operational teams, developers and planning authorities
• Influence key stakeholders, work collaboratively and build partnerships to develop evidence (e.g. work with Welsh Government, Environment Agency, Defra, Local Authorities, water companies, British Geological Survey, academic community)
• To use your best professional judgement and decision-making when required in dealing with the more technically challenging scientific/technical operational decisions faced by Natural Resources Wales
• To prioritise tasks and activities efficiently and develop effective working relationships with internal and external customers to ensure that the teams outcomes are maintained.

Job specific requirements

• You will have a Geological Science or Environmental Science degree (or equivalent) with a post-graduate qualification in hydrogeology or closely related subject. This should be complemented with experience in the field of groundwater resource and quality assessment and management. You will have knowledge of environmental legislation and ideally be a member of a relevant professional body. A full driving licence will be required.

You’ll possess proven ability and/or knowledge in the following areas:

• Be both numerate and computer literate
• Good understanding of IT (Word processing, spreadsheets, databases, GIS packages)
• Working independently demonstrating personal initiative and good organisational skills
• Being innovative and demonstrate drive to achieve targets
• Interpreting and reporting on environmental data, and turning data into evidence and making recommendations

Due consideration has been given to the Welsh language requirements for the post and the existing skills within the team. Taking this into consideration the Welsh language skills required for the post are at Level 1.

Personal responsibilities

• Agrees a personal delivery plan and report to their line manager on progress no less than twice a year
• Exercise good judgement and be willing to be held to account for decisions, actions and choices made personally and by staff for whom you are responsible
• Acts as a role model of organisational values
  • Shows exemplary behaviours of honesty, integrity and ethics
  • Challenges others when they fail to act as role models
  • Combines confidence and resilience with humility and a willingness to learn

The post holder is responsible to: Geoscience Technical Team Leader.

The role holder is responsible for the following activities: Provision of technical support and advice on a range of hydrogeological issues to operational teams and customers.

Status

This is a permanent, pensionable full-time appointment of 37 hours a week.

Grade

NRW C1 range £24,578 to £27,947.

A discretionary Recruitment and Retention allowance of approximately £1,287 is attached to this post which is subject to annual review.

Applications and Closing Date

For further details please contact Trystan James. Geoscience. Technical Team Leader on 02920 466097 or email Trystan.James@cyfoethnaturiolcumru.gov.uk

Closing Date:

Monday 17th November 2014.

Interview dates will be arranged shortly afterwards.

Please forward your expression of interest demonstrating your suitability for this role to: recruitment@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk