Human Resources Senior Specialist Advisor
Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources WalesPosted 3 hours ago
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The role
Join Natural Resources Wales as a Human Resources Senior Specialist Advisor and play a key role in shaping our people agenda. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll provide trusted advice, challenge and support to help build high-performing teams, drive organisational change and deliver our strategic priorities.
Using workforce data, employee insights and business intelligence, you'll turn complex information into meaningful solutions that improve workforce planning, employee experience and organisational performance. You'll also help drive the delivery of our People Strategy, supporting transformational initiatives and embedding best-practice people approaches across the organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who enjoys building strong relationships, influencing at a senior level and using evidence-based insights to deliver lasting results. If you're passionate about creating positive workplace cultures and helping organisations thrive, we'd love to hear from you.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home 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 Richard James at richard.james@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place on 28/09/2026 through Microsoft Teams
About Us
At Natural Resources Wales, our purpose is to ensure that Wales' natural resources are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used, now and for future generations.
Our People, Fleet and Facilities Directorate plays a vital role in helping the organisation achieve this ambition. We work to create an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace, ensuring that our people have the skills, leadership and environment they need to succeed.
As part of our People team, you will join a collaborative and forward-thinking group of professionals who are passionate about delivering excellent people services and supporting organisational success. Reporting to the Policy and Reward Manager, you will work across the organisation, partnering with senior leaders and teams to help shape workforce strategy, improve employee experience and support business performance.
We offer flexible and hybrid ways of working and are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution. Joining us means becoming part of an organisation that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, while making a positive difference for the people, places and natural environment of Wales.
What You Will Do
In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method
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
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.
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:
Please keep reading
We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of 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.
Join Natural Resources Wales as a Human Resources Senior Specialist Advisor and play a key role in shaping our people agenda. Working closely with senior leaders, you'll provide trusted advice, challenge and support to help build high-performing teams, drive organisational change and deliver our strategic priorities.
Using workforce data, employee insights and business intelligence, you'll turn complex information into meaningful solutions that improve workforce planning, employee experience and organisational performance. You'll also help drive the delivery of our People Strategy, supporting transformational initiatives and embedding best-practice people approaches across the organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who enjoys building strong relationships, influencing at a senior level and using evidence-based insights to deliver lasting results. If you're passionate about creating positive workplace cultures and helping organisations thrive, we'd love to hear from you.
As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home 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 Richard James at richard.james@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk
Interviews will take place on 28/09/2026 through Microsoft Teams
About Us
At Natural Resources Wales, our purpose is to ensure that Wales' natural resources are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used, now and for future generations.
Our People, Fleet and Facilities Directorate plays a vital role in helping the organisation achieve this ambition. We work to create an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace, ensuring that our people have the skills, leadership and environment they need to succeed.
As part of our People team, you will join a collaborative and forward-thinking group of professionals who are passionate about delivering excellent people services and supporting organisational success. Reporting to the Policy and Reward Manager, you will work across the organisation, partnering with senior leaders and teams to help shape workforce strategy, improve employee experience and support business performance.
We offer flexible and hybrid ways of working and are committed to creating an environment where colleagues can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution. Joining us means becoming part of an organisation that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, while making a positive difference for the people, places and natural environment of Wales.
What You Will Do
- Be the lead, expert specialist and ambassador for the Operations Directorate and NRW.
- Be the ambassador and custodian for developing and delivering and maintaining a continuous professional standard across NRW.
- Actively contribute, promote and where necessary lead on Directorate and Corporate initiatives.
- Proactively develop working relationships the build trust and empower managers to use People Management practices with confidence.
- Identify and proactively deliver against relevant measurable Directorate and NRW KPI's.
- As a senior member of the People Management team, be proactive and use internal and external best practices and working relationships to good effect.
- Understand the business needs and the people management issues and take steps to identify and implement initiatives.
- Work with Directorate colleagues to provide technical advice across all People Management specialisms for the relevant Directorate.
- Proactively identify trends and patterns and use initiative to improve all People Management practices.
- Attend external HR meetings on behalf of NRW where other professional HR leads are in attendance e.g. Devolved Sector Group.
- Be involved in leading strategic elements of People Management practices across all fields of People Management Practice.
- Also be involved working with the Head of People Management on more sensitive and complex issues.
- Undertake health and safety 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 and that of your staff through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).
- Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.
In your application and interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following skills and experience using the STAR method
- CIPD Level 7 qualification, Chartered Membership of the CIPD, or equivalent professional HR qualification and experience.
- Significant experience of operating as a strategic HR Business Partner, working with senior leaders to develop and deliver people solutions that support organisational priorities and business outcomes.
- Extensive knowledge of employment legislation, HR best practice and organisational development principles, with experience of applying these within complex organisational environments.
- Proven experience of coaching, influencing and constructively challenging senior leaders to strengthen leadership capability, improve people management practice and drive organisational performance.
- Experience of leading and supporting organisational change, transformation programmes and workforce planning activities.
- Experience of analysing workforce data, employee insight and organisational trends to identify issues, inform decision making and develop evidence-based recommendations.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to build credibility, establish trusted relationships and influence decision making at all levels of the organisation.
- Experience of managing complex and sensitive people issues, balancing organisational, legal and people considerations to achieve effective outcomes.
- Experience of developing and implementing people initiatives that improve organisational performance, employee engagement and workforce capability.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly and adapt approaches to different audiences.
- Essential: Level A1 - Entry level
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
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.
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
Please keep reading
We're passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of 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.