4040 - Environmental Support Officer - Welsh Essential

• Details
• Reference number
• 476175
• Salary
• £30,754 - £34,997
• Starting salary will be £30,754
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

• Job grade
• Executive Officer
• Contract type
• Permanent
• Business area
• Local Government, Housing, Rural Resilience & Sustainability Group
• Type of role
• Operational Delivery
• Working pattern
• Full-time
• Number of jobs available
• 1
• Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Wales

About the job

Job summary

These are WELSH essential roles based in North Wales office. Candidates are required to apply in Welsh and Interviews will be conducted through the medium of Welsh.

Join Us and Help Shape the Future of Wales

Are you passionate about delivering excellent customer service and making a meaningful impact on the environment and communities across Wales? Rural Payments Wales (RPW) are recruiting enthusiastic, motivated individuals to join their high‑performing, well‑established teams.

RPW is the largest operational delivery division within the Welsh Government, supporting Wales’s rural economy and administering around £300 million of funding each year. Following the launch of the Sustainable Farming Scheme (2026), this is an exciting moment to get involved in work that directly shapes the future of farming, sustainability and land management in Wales.

We are recruiting 1 Environmental Support Officer role, offering varied, rewarding work within a fast‑paced environment. With potentially more roles becoming available.

Job description

Join the Environmental Technical Support Team within Rural Payments Wales (RPW) and play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable farming in Wales. This is your chance to work directly with farmers, turning environmental ambition into real‑world impact through the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

You’ll spend time out on farms discovering opportunities to deliver genuine environmental benefits—spotting important habitats, identifying nature‑positive actions, and helping farmers unlock the full potential of the scheme’s Optional Layer.

Within RPW, you’ll be the trusted specialist colleagues turn to, providing expert insight, producing management plans, appraising applications, undertaking desk-based habitat assessments and advice that help keep Wales’ land, habitats, and rural communities thriving.

This is a rare, hands‑on role where you’ll make a visible difference—bringing the Sustainable Farming Scheme to life and helping deliver Wales’ ambitious Sustainable Land Management goals.

The post holder will work as part of a team alongside other Technical Support Officers across Wales and will be expected to travel regularly. A full, valid UK driving licence is essential, as the role may require visits to remote locations where access by public transport is limited or impractical.

Benefits of Working with Us

• Competitive salary with annual pay progression.
• Generous pension scheme and secure employment within the Welsh Government.
• Hybrid and flexible working options, including flexi‑time and job‑share opportunities.
• Excellent annual leave entitlement plus public holidays.
• A strong focus on wellbeing, including access to support services and staff networks.
• A welcoming, inclusive culture that values collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Comprehensive training and development, including opportunities to progress your career.

Want to Learn More?

We’re hosting an online information session where you can:

• Meet the teams
• Ask questions
• Explore what the roles involve
• Learn about development and progression opportunities

• Online via Microsoft Teams on 20/08/2026 at 10:00 (Welsh)
• Online via Microsoft Teams on 20/08/2026 at 11:00 (English)
• To secure your place at either of these events, please email: RPW.DivisionalReturns@gov.wales

Person specification

• Undertake on farms assessments, identifying habitats, their management needs and other environmental opportunities that could be delivered.
• Produce management plans to support farmers in the delivery actions to achieve environmental outcomes. For example, improving biodiversity through improved habitat management, creating habitats and adjusting land management practises to protect environmental features e.g. Water courses.
• Map habitats and associated management actions onto RPW systems.
• Provide technical advice, guidance, and act as a point of contact for farmers to answer questions and resolve issues and problems relating to the Sustainable Farming Scheme, habitat management and other environmental matters.
• Analysis of complex information such as customer evidence in support of requests to change habitat management requirements, applications for funding or appeals to deliver value for money and ensure environmental outcomes are achieved.
• To undertake financial and technical due diligence in the development of management plans and on applications for grant funding.
• To provide accurate advice and recommendations to senior managers on technical environmental issues relating to the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
• Ensure that IT systems are used effectively, records are maintained in accordance with the Welsh Government requirements.
• Managing your own work and prioritising cases in line with predetermined deadlines.
• Support the delivery of training on the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
• Ensuring Quality Standards are met in line with rules and requirements.
• Take care for the health and safety of yourself and others and to comply with all health and safety legislation as appropriate.
• To assist with other divisional priorities when required.

On farm assessments require individuals to walk considerable distances across uneven and sometimes challenging terrain in a variety of weather conditions throughout the year. Individuals will work in close proximity to both small and large livestock (including sheep and cattle) and may be required to undertake some physical interaction with animals.

Licences

Full UK driving license

Qualifications

Experience or relevant qualification in Ecology, Environmental Management, or Conservation alongside an understanding of agricultural practices. this will be assessed through Experience 1 at Stage 1 and 2. Evidence in Welsh.

Languages

Welsh language skills are essential for this role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• You will be asked a technical question which will cover farming practices and their positive and negative impacts on habitats, species and the wider environment. (Evidence to be answered in Welsh)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,754, Welsh Government contributes £8,909 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical 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.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:

• 2 stage process
• Stage 1
• Application Form
• Stage 2
• Interview

Experience or relevant qualification in Ecology, Environmental Management, or Conservation alongside an understanding of agricultural practices. this will be assessed through Experience 1 at Stage 1 and 2. Evidence in Welsh.

In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience 1 . Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

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. Reserve candidates will be contacted if further identical or comparable roles become available.

Merit Order: In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the below list will determine the merit order in which candidate will be appointed. Highest score in the below merit order,

• Technical
• Experience 1
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating & Influencing

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Environmental Technical Support
• Email : RPW.DivisionalReturns@gov.wales

Recruitment team

• Email : SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales

Further information

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