Contract type: Fixed term 12-month Higher Education Placement
Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week
Post number: 203128
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 one-year placement role for someone who has recently qualified (within 18 months) at HNC, HND or degree level, or is currently undertaking a higher education sandwich course requiring a year placement, in flood risk management related subjects such as engineering, earth sciences, geography, ecology or a related subject.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the hydrometry and telemetry team at both national and operational level. In the first six months of the placement, you’ll support the national team in the development and maintenance of hydrometric systems. You’ll also respond to requests for hydrometric data from a range of sources.
The second element of the placement involves spending time in one of the H&T teams in Operations. You’ll support the team in maintaining the hydrometric gauging station network in making sure accurate and timely river flow data is available for a range of purposes including using the data for the issuing of flood warnings during flood events.
In your role you will make sure that the principles of SMNR and Well-being of Future Generations Act are considered in your decision making.
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include:
- Assisting in ensuring that all hydrometric data is acquired and transferred in a secure, timely and accurate manner for customers.
- Ensuring the Wellbeing Health and Safety of yourself, team and public in every aspect of working within H&T supporting others within the H&T team in all aspects of hydrometric network management
- Assisting with the calibration of monitoring equipment; channel flow measurement; site maintenance; installation of monitoring equipment; data input to hydrometric archive. (WISKI)
- Contributing to national advances in data management and validation techniques.
- Working with operational Hydrometry and Telemetry teams and local clients.
- Participating in team meeting and in external meetings with other members of the team.
- Interacting with peers in other NRW teams.
- Contributing towards the teams delegated responsibility for delivery of work programmes.
- Other work as directed by the line manager.
Qualifications, experience and knowledge
Knowledge and experience of the following:
- Be recently qualified (within 18 months) at HNC, HND or degree level, or is currently undertaking a higher education sandwich course requiring a year placement, in flood risk management related subjects such as engineering, earth sciences, geography, ecology or a related subject.
- Have a good understanding of hydrometry, hydrology, or flood risk management principles.
- Have good communication and inter-personal skills with a customer focus. Ability to build effective working relationship with colleagues and partners.
- Have good ICT skills (Essential)
- Have a Full UK driving licence (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 Alison Hanson at Alison.Hanson@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.
