The Marine and Fisheries Division protects and regulate the Welsh fishing industry, promoting clean, healthy, productive and biologically diverse seas. The marine environment of Wales supports social, business and conservation interests, from the world renowned Menai Strait in North Wales, home to Halen Mon Anglesey Sea Salt, to the UK’s only coastal National Park in Pembrokeshire.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support Welsh-speaking staff to use their Welsh language skills during a placement. We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

The Environment and Marine Directorate of the Welsh Government is seeking a PhD student for a placement opportunity within its Marine Resilience and Climate Change Division. The division’s remit falls under the portfolio of the Minister for Climate Change which supports delivery objectives identified under the Welsh Government’s “Programme for Government” (PfG) and other strategies.

The purpose of the post is to support the Marine and Fisheries Division in developing evidence, actions and interventions for decarbonisation and adaptation to climate change. Depending on timings and needs, the placement could focus on fishing activities and the fish supply chain and the relative merits and de-merits of decarbonisation interventions; and, blue carbon storage potential, interactions and interventions.

The placement provides an opportunity to gain insight into the functioning of Welsh Government and evidence-based policy development at the highest level. The post-holder will work in an interesting and diverse team, contributing to the shaping of a future policy direction. The post-holder will be expected to work independently within parameters and guidelines provided by the Welsh Government. Working closely with a wide range of colleagues the successful candidate will build valuable working relationships, broaden their knowledge of public policy-making and enhance their existing transferable skills.

The student will join a policy team managing a diverse evidence-base and delivering advisory support to the Marine and Fisheries Division. This is an interesting and diverse role, which will allow the student to gain a broad knowledge and understanding of Welsh Government policy work. With support from their WG supervisor, the student will be expected to take responsibility for managing and delivery of work commitments during the placement period.

Key tasks will include:

• Collating existing research and evidence on carbon emissions and budgets for Welsh marine activities
• Researching potential decarbonisation interventions and application within the Welsh context
• Undertaking/specifying more in-depth investigations into potential interventions for e.g. vessel decarbonisation, saltmarsh and seagrass restoration, a blue carbon code/financial mechanism
• Working with the Marine Resilience and Climate Change team to provide cross Divisional policy support for the Marine and Fisheries Climate Change Action Plan.

The exact tasks required of the student will be dependent on the particular focus of the team at the time of the placement and the student will likely have the opportunity to become involved in other work areas where they have a specific interest. This placement/s will pick up and build on progress made by previous placements.

We’re looking for people with the following key skills:

• Excellent research skills and the ability to analyse complex information and data
• Ability to write clearly and concisely and present technical material in an accessible format
• Presentation skills
• Creative thinking
• Ability to apply an innovative approach