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Team / Directorate: Communications and External Affairs / Communications, Customer and Commercial

Starting salary: £45,367 rising to £50,877 per annum through annual increments being paid each year (pro rata for part time applicants)

Contract type: Permanent

Work pattern: Full time, 37 hours per week (Part time, annualised hours, compressed hours or term time working considered - discussions at interview stage welcome)

Interview date: 28/07/2025

Post Number: 203955 (for office use only: GDN, TTJ, H)

The role

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is seeking an experienced External Affairs Manager to lead our strategic engagement with partners.

In this influential role, you will manage a specialist team that works closely with the Chief Executive, Executive Team, and senior leaders across the organisation. Together, you'll shape NRW's external affairs strategy-ensuring we have a strong, consistent voice in policy discussions, advocacy, and reputation management.

This is a unique opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest levels and help position NRW as a trusted, expert voice in environmental and public policy across Wales.

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.

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams.

Successful external applicants will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check. We aim to make offers of appointment within 4 to 8 weeks of the closing date.

About Us

Natural Resources Wales is the principal environmental body for Wales, working to protect and enhance the nation's natural environment for future generations. The External Affairs Team is central to this mission-providing expert guidance on political engagement, stakeholder relationships, and policy advocacy to ensure NRW's voice is heard and respected at every level.

What you will do

• Manage and lead a team, ensuring the delivery of work plans and be fully accountable for staff development, performance and well-being, as well as ensuring compliance with all NRW policies and procedures.
• Lead on the development and oversee delivery of NRW's External Affairs Plan, ensuring effective engagement with government, industry, and key stakeholders to influence policy and decision-making in line with our strategic priorities.
• Work with the team and the Public Affairs Officer to build relationships and manage regular contact with key stakeholders, politicians and political advisers to keep them informed about NRW's work and policy concerns and ensure follow up.
• Manage preparation for key stakeholder meetings, ensuring NRW Board, ET and LT staff are well briefed on likely interest and can respond to concerns and questions accordingly.
• Through effective engagement, communication, influencing and negotiation, and working with Heads of Place and Service develop and maintain good working relationships with internal clients and external stakeholders including public- sector organisations, various industrial and commercial sectors
• Act in the best interests of NRW ensuring decision making and advice given are sound and all risks are actively managed. Develop and oversee the feedback loop for sharing intelligence into and out of the business and ensuring that we react appropriately
• 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.
  
  

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written with experience of providing advice to senior management
• Extensive experience of management of a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent relationship building skills and experience of quickly developing internal and external networks to help achieve objectives and build advocacy
• Pragmatic and forward thinking with an ability to determine when to escalate issues to Senior Management
• Excellent understanding of the political and public landscape in Wales
• Ability to operate with confidence and credibility at the highest levels of an organisation.
• Political awareness and experience of operating in politically sensitive environments.
• Experience of managing teams, including all aspects of line management.
  
  

• Essential: C2 - Higher proficiency level (fluent in both spoken and written Welsh) previous Level 5
  
  

• 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
  
  

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Management

• Industries

  Strategic Management Services

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