Environmental Advisor – Ecology & Nature Recovery
Location
Wales, England, United Kingdom
Employment TypeFull-time
Posted At4/23/2026
UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics
Occupation TypeEnvironment professionals
Occupation Code Skill LevelHigher Skilled
Sponsorship Salary Threshold
£41,700
(£21.38 per hour)
Standard minimum applies
Above analytics are generated algorithmically based on job titles and may not always be the same as the company's job classification. You can also check detailed occupation eligibility, and salary criteria on our UK Visa Eligible Occupations & Salary Thresholds page.
Disclaimer: Hunt UK Visa Sponsors aggregates job listings from publicly available sources, such as search engines, to assist with your job hunting. We do not claim affiliation with Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government. For the most up-to-date job details, please visit the official website by clicking "Apply Now."
Description
Vacancy title
Environmental Advisor – Ecology & Nature Recovery
Closing date
30/04/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
A starting salary between £47,675 and £52,557 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable. The pay scale of this role has a salary band between £47,675 and £56,445 in 4 annual increments. Pay progression is based on annual incremental advance to the next point on the scale (awarded subject to satisfactory performance) until the employee reaches the target rate.
Salary range or pay band
SEO £47,675 to £56,445
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Economy, Energy and Transport
Directorate
Transport and Digital Connectivity
Branch
Environmental Coordination & Advice Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is a critical Welsh Government infrastructure asset valued at over £21.8 billion. Although it represents only around 5% of Wales’ total road length, it carries roughly one‑third of all road traffic—connecting communities, supporting the Welsh economy, and enabling access to essential services.
This role sits within the Network Management area of the Strategic Road Network Division, as part of a wider effort to strengthen our capability as a highway authority and embed environmental excellence across the SRN. Over the coming months, we are building a diverse, skilled team to help shape a safe, resilient, and sustainable transport network for Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to influence real change—improving biodiversity, supporting nature recovery, and ensuring our transport infrastructure contributes positively to Wales’ environment, communities, and well‑being.
What You’ll Be Doing
Environmental Advisor – Ecology & Nature Recovery
Closing date
30/04/2026, 16:00
Advertising basis
Permanent
Actual starting salary
A starting salary between £47,675 and £52,557 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable. The pay scale of this role has a salary band between £47,675 and £56,445 in 4 annual increments. Pay progression is based on annual incremental advance to the next point on the scale (awarded subject to satisfactory performance) until the employee reaches the target rate.
Salary range or pay band
SEO £47,675 to £56,445
Allowances
No
Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Group
Economy, Energy and Transport
Directorate
Transport and Digital Connectivity
Branch
Environmental Coordination & Advice Team
Location (s)
Pan Wales
Purpose of post
The Strategic Road Network (SRN) is a critical Welsh Government infrastructure asset valued at over £21.8 billion. Although it represents only around 5% of Wales’ total road length, it carries roughly one‑third of all road traffic—connecting communities, supporting the Welsh economy, and enabling access to essential services.
This role sits within the Network Management area of the Strategic Road Network Division, as part of a wider effort to strengthen our capability as a highway authority and embed environmental excellence across the SRN. Over the coming months, we are building a diverse, skilled team to help shape a safe, resilient, and sustainable transport network for Wales. This is an exciting opportunity to influence real change—improving biodiversity, supporting nature recovery, and ensuring our transport infrastructure contributes positively to Wales’ environment, communities, and well‑being.
What You’ll Be Doing
You'll support the planning, operation, maintenance, and improvement of the SRN in line with Welsh Government policy, including:
Environmental Advisor – Key Focus
You Will Lead And Coordinate The Implementation Of Llwybr Newydd i Natur – The Nature Recovery Action Plan Across The SRN, Ensuring Biodiversity And Ecosystem Resilience Are Embedded Through All Functions Of The Division. You’ll Be Responsible For:
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. You’ll be joining a supportive, delivery‑focused team that values innovation, partnership working, and continuous improvement. In this role, your expertise will directly shape how Wales manages and cares for its transport environment—helping to safeguard nature, support well‑being, and enhance the resilience of one of the nation’s most important infrastructure assets.
You’ll also benefit from an exceptional employee package. As a Welsh Government employee, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which offers one of the most generous employer contribution rates in the UK (28.97% employer contribution), providing long‑term financial security that is difficult to match elsewhere. You’ll enjoy 31 days of annual leave plus bank and privilege holidays, alongside flexible working arrangements and a hybrid working approach designed to support wellbeing, work‑life balance and productivity. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail season tickets, and access to wellbeing and employee support programmes. For more information, visit Pay, pensions and benefits | GOV.WALES
You will play a key role in translating this policy framework into practical action—ensuring the SRN not only meets statutory environmental requirements, but actively contributes to ecosystem resilience and nature recovery.
Environmental Advisor – Key Focus
- Llwybr Newydd: The Wales Transport Strategy (2021)
- The Well‑being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015
- Environmental and biodiversity commitments across Government
Environmental Advisor – Key Focus
You Will Lead And Coordinate The Implementation Of Llwybr Newydd i Natur – The Nature Recovery Action Plan Across The SRN, Ensuring Biodiversity And Ecosystem Resilience Are Embedded Through All Functions Of The Division. You’ll Be Responsible For:
- Developing, prioritising, and delivering workstreams that protect and enhance biodiversity
- Providing expert ecological and environmental advice to project teams, trunk road agents, and internal/external stakeholders
- Ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, planning requirements, and Ministerial priorities
- Supporting and coordinating environmental work across Transport, including contributing to capital programmes that improve asset management outcomes
- Championing a holistic, collaborative approach to environmental stewardship across the SRN
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. You’ll be joining a supportive, delivery‑focused team that values innovation, partnership working, and continuous improvement. In this role, your expertise will directly shape how Wales manages and cares for its transport environment—helping to safeguard nature, support well‑being, and enhance the resilience of one of the nation’s most important infrastructure assets.
You’ll also benefit from an exceptional employee package. As a Welsh Government employee, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which offers one of the most generous employer contribution rates in the UK (28.97% employer contribution), providing long‑term financial security that is difficult to match elsewhere. You’ll enjoy 31 days of annual leave plus bank and privilege holidays, alongside flexible working arrangements and a hybrid working approach designed to support wellbeing, work‑life balance and productivity. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail season tickets, and access to wellbeing and employee support programmes. For more information, visit Pay, pensions and benefits | GOV.WALES
You will play a key role in translating this policy framework into practical action—ensuring the SRN not only meets statutory environmental requirements, but actively contributes to ecosystem resilience and nature recovery.
Environmental Advisor – Key Focus
You Will Lead And Coordinate The Implementation Of Llwybr Newydd i Natur – The Nature Recovery Action Plan Across The SRN, Ensuring Biodiversity And Ecosystem Resilience Are Embedded Through All Functions Of The Division. You’ll Be Responsible For:
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. You’ll be joining a supportive, delivery‑focused team that values innovation, partnership working, and continuous improvement. In this role, your expertise will directly shape how Wales manages and cares for its transport environment—helping to safeguard nature, support well‑being, and enhance the resilience of one of the nation’s most important infrastructure assets.
You’ll also benefit from an exceptional employee package. As a Welsh Government employee, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which offers one of the most generous employer contribution rates in the UK (28.97% employer contribution), providing long‑term financial security that is difficult to match elsewhere. You’ll enjoy 31 days of annual leave plus bank and privilege holidays, alongside flexible working arrangements and a hybrid working approach designed to support wellbeing, work‑life balance and productivity. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail season tickets, and access to wellbeing and employee support programmes. For more information, visit Pay, pensions and benefits | GOV.WALES
Key tasks
Key Responsibilities
- Developing, prioritising, and delivering workstreams that protect and enhance biodiversity
- Providing expert ecological and environmental advice to project teams, trunk road agents, and internal/external stakeholders
- Ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, planning requirements, and Ministerial priorities
- Supporting and coordinating environmental work across Transport, including contributing to capital programmes that improve asset management outcomes
- Championing a holistic, collaborative approach to environmental stewardship across the SRN
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. You’ll be joining a supportive, delivery‑focused team that values innovation, partnership working, and continuous improvement. In this role, your expertise will directly shape how Wales manages and cares for its transport environment—helping to safeguard nature, support well‑being, and enhance the resilience of one of the nation’s most important infrastructure assets.
You’ll also benefit from an exceptional employee package. As a Welsh Government employee, you’ll be automatically enrolled into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, which offers one of the most generous employer contribution rates in the UK (28.97% employer contribution), providing long‑term financial security that is difficult to match elsewhere. You’ll enjoy 31 days of annual leave plus bank and privilege holidays, alongside flexible working arrangements and a hybrid working approach designed to support wellbeing, work‑life balance and productivity. We also offer a range of additional benefits, including cycle and green car schemes, discounted rail season tickets, and access to wellbeing and employee support programmes. For more information, visit Pay, pensions and benefits | GOV.WALES
Key tasks
Key Responsibilities
- Lead strategic nature recovery across the SRN, driving meaningful change by embedding biodiversity enhancement, ecosystem resilience and sustainability into all aspects of network planning, operation and maintenance.
- Provide expert ecological leadership, promoting a collaborative, joined‑up approach across Welsh Government, trunk road agents, consultants, and delivery partners to ensure nature recovery is central to SRN decision‑making.
- Act as a core member of the Environmental Coordination and Advice Team, delivering high‑quality technical, legislative and strategic guidance to internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Shape environmental excellence by developing and implementing policies, standards and guidance that support statutory requirements and long‑term environmental objectives for the SRN.
- Strengthen partnership working by collaborating with key organisations—such as Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government Nature Policy teams, devolved administrations, professional bodies and National Highways—to improve outcomes for wildlife and advance nature recovery across Wales.
- Drive programme leadership by coordinating a strategic pipeline of biodiversity and nature recovery initiatives, ensuring they are evidence‑based, deliverable and aligned with Ministerial priorities.
- Ensure legal and policy compliance, offering authoritative advice on biodiversity, sustainable development and environmental legislation, while embedding best practice into all SRN activities.
- Oversee environmental activities delivered by Trunk Road Agents, fostering strong relationships, monitoring performance, and ensuring delivery aligns with environmental service requirements.
- Support transparent governance by contributing to monitoring, evaluation and reporting on compliance with Welsh Government environmental strategies, plans and commitments.
- Champion the environmental ambition of the SRN Division, using effective communication and stakeholder engagement to promote best practice, share success and build confidence in delivery.
Joining The Strategic Road Network Division Offers a Unique Chance To Shape How Wales Delivers Environmentally Responsible Transport Infrastructure. In This Role, You’ll Benefit From:
- Exposure to nationally significant infrastructure programmes, giving you the opportunity to influence nature recovery, biodiversity enhancement, and sustainability outcomes at a strategic, Wales‑wide scale.
- Opportunities to work directly with Ministers, senior Welsh Government leaders, and key strategic partners such as Natural Resources Wales and UK‑wide transport bodies—providing valuable insight into environmental policy-making and delivery at the highest levels.
- Professional growth in stakeholder engagement and influence, with the cross‑cutting nature of the role offering regular collaboration across divisions, agencies, and government partners.
- Development of leadership, collaboration and environmental management skills, supported by access to mentoring, peer learning, and targeted learning pathways. We are committed to helping all staff grow, build confidence, and thrive in their roles.
- Specialist development in ecological, biodiversity and sustainable development practice, building expertise that supports long‑term career progression in environmental leadership roles.
- A supportive, inclusive team culture where innovation, professional curiosity and continuous improvement are encouraged—and where your contribution will help shape the environmental future of Wales’ transport network.
Other vacancy related information
This post requires you to be a member of a relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management or working towards becoming a member of such a body.
A full valid UK driving licence is necessary as this role will involve making frequent visits to premises of the sites you are inspecting and relying on public transport may be difficult.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
This is a Pan-Wales role and can be based at any Welsh Government office. The successful candidate will be expected to attend their nearest office regularly and undertake site visits across Wales (average of 1 a month) as a part of their role.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the assessment criteria Experience 1. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the following merit order will be applied:
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
EST-NMDMailbox@Gov.Wales
Welsh language requirements
3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
Understanding by reading
0 - No skills
Speaking and being understood
0 - No skills
Understanding by listening
0 - No skills
Writing and being understood
0 - No skills
Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
Behaviour 1:
This post requires you to be a member of a relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management or working towards becoming a member of such a body.
A full valid UK driving licence is necessary as this role will involve making frequent visits to premises of the sites you are inspecting and relying on public transport may be difficult.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
This is a Pan-Wales role and can be based at any Welsh Government office. The successful candidate will be expected to attend their nearest office regularly and undertake site visits across Wales (average of 1 a month) as a part of their role.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the assessment criteria Experience 1. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the following merit order will be applied:
- Experience 1
- Experience 2
- Working Together
- Managing a Quality Service
- Seeing the Big Picture
Basic
Number of posts
1
Contact point for further information regarding the post
EST-NMDMailbox@Gov.Wales
Welsh language requirements
3 - Welsh language skills are not essential for this post, they are however desirable and will be considered if two or more candidates receive the same score at the application or interview stage.
Understanding by reading
0 - No skills
Speaking and being understood
0 - No skills
Understanding by listening
0 - No skills
Writing and being understood
0 - No skills
Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.
Behaviour 1:
The selection process and stages are:
Seeing the Big Picture
Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
Behaviour 2:
Working Together
Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support.
Behaviour 3:
Managing a Quality Service
Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently.
Evidence to provide
Experience questions
Experience 1:
Ability to support project teams by incorporating ecological considerations into infrastructure development or improvement programmes.
You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
Seeing the Big Picture
Remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area.
Behaviour 2:
Working Together
Establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Collaborate with these to share information, resources and support.
Behaviour 3:
Managing a Quality Service
Identify risks and resolve issues efficiently.
Evidence to provide
Experience questions
Experience 1:
- Ability to contribute to sustainable improvements in physical infrastructure while ensuring alignment with nature‑related policy and legislative requirements.
Ability to support project teams by incorporating ecological considerations into infrastructure development or improvement programmes.
You will be asked about your nationality and if you are legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom. This is to find out if you are eligible to apply for this vacancy. This is a requirement for working within the Civil Service. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
If you do not meet the eligibility criteria your application will not progress. If it becomes clear at a later stage in the process that you are not eligible to apply, your application may be withdrawn, or the offer retracted.
Nationality Requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Civil Service Pension Scheme
- 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
- training and development opportunities
- Cycle2Work Scheme
- Smart Working flexible working arrangement
- Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition. Please see the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles on the Commission's website.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and wish to make a complaint please email complaints@gov.wales . Please ensure that you refer to the vacancy reference number.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Welsh Government, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: info@csc.gov.uk.
How To Apply
All applications for this vacancy must be made using our online application system.
Unless stated otherwise in the 'Other vacancy-related information for advert', the Welsh Government cannot offer Visa sponsorship. Welsh Government holds a Visa sponsorship licence, but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
Applications are welcomed from people with a diverse range of lived and professional experiences. We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation which represents the diverse communities we serve. There are a number of Diversity networks that staff can participate in, which include the Disability Awareness and Support Staff Network; Minority Ethnic Staff Network; Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (LGBTI+), Women Together and the Neurodivergence Network.
If you have an impairment which prevents you from applying online, please email our recruitment team. You can:
- request an application pack in an alternative format
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes: When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.
Use the 'Apply' button to submit your application. You will be asked to register if you don't have an account or sign in if you do. Registration takes a few minutes and you will need an email address.
You should check your Application Centre regularly for updates to your application. Please also check your spam/junk folder in case any communication regarding your application and/or assessment details finds its way there.
Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form. You must complete this and submit it before the deadline on the closing date. We will not consider an incomplete application form.
If you would like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the Change Language link on this page. We welcome applications in Welsh, and applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.
Please see the candidate guidance for more information on the recruitment process.
For information on Civil Service Success Profiles please click here .
For TS to G6 recruitment schemes:
When presenting your evidence, you may find it useful to consider the expectations of the grade as set out in the Grade Description as well as the main responsibilities that are essential for the role.