Senior Development Advisor

job description

Are you an experienced planning professional with the technical expertise and ambition to shape sustainable development across Wales?

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is seeking a Senior Planning Advisor to take on a lead role in our Development Planning Advice Service (DPAS). This role offers the chance to influence major development proposals across Wales — including infrastructure, housing, transport, and agriculture — ensuring environmental priorities are at the heart of decision-making.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of complex and high‑profile casework, providing authoritative advice to Planning Authorities, Welsh Government, and developers. Your work will span a wide range of environmental topics such as conservation sites, European Protected Species, flood risk, water quality, air quality, contaminated land, and landscape. You’ll work closely with technical specialists across NRW to deliver robust, evidence-based guidance that supports sustainable outcomes. Your expertise will directly influence how development takes place in Wales – ensuring it aligns with national priorities for climate, biodiversity, and natural resource management.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with substantial experience in planning, environmental management, or ecological consultancy. You’ll bring strong communication and analytical skills, a collaborative mindset, and the confidence to influence at a strategic level — helping to improve the economic, social, environmental, and cultural well‑being of Wales. In this role, you will lead on nationally significant work and contribute to the continued growth and quality of a highly regarded environmental planning service.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the NRW office in Cardiff 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 Gemma Beynon at gemma.beynon@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk  

Interviews will take place on week commencing 23 March 2026 through Microsoft Teams