Chief Executive Officer, The Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW)

Welsh Government

Llandudno Junction, UK

Hybrid

Expires: Expiring in 1 month

Environmental

Full time

£86,000 per year

Job summary

The Office of Environmental Governance Wales (OEGW) is a new, independent statutory body, established under Part 2 of the Act. Its purpose is to ensure that environmental law in Wales is effective, coherent, and properly implemented. The OEGW will sit above the front-line regulators providing strategic oversight of the effectiveness, application and implementation as well as any failures by public authorities to comply with environmental law.

The intention is for The OEGW to be operational, exercising all of its functions in January
2028 and will have a workforce of around 31 when fully resourced. Its core functions are to:

Monitor and report on compliance

The OEGW will monitor how Welsh Ministers, NRW, local authorities and other public bodies comply with, implement and apply environmental law and will report publicly on their performance.

Provide advice, guidance and assistance

The OEGW may provide advice, guidance and assistance to Welsh Ministers on the operation, effectiveness and improvement of environmental law in Wales, supporting evidence based, long term policymaking. The OEGW may provide advice, guidance and assistance to any person on matters relating to environmental law.

Investigate concerns and address non compliance through enforcement

Where there is evidence of public bodies failing to comply with environmental law, concerns relating to how environmental law is implemented and applied or its effectiveness, The OEGW will be able to investigate and, if necessary, issue:

Information Notices, Compliance Notices, including urgent notices, and Apply to the High Court for an order requiring action where a public authority has failed to comply with a compliance notice for orders requiring action.
These powers enable proportionate, escalating action.

Support improvement

The OEGW may produce improvement reports where concerns relating to environmental matters are deemed to be strategic in nature and would not be dealt with effectively by a compliance notice. The Welsh Ministers are required to respond with an improvement plan to address the recommendations in the report.

Independence and governance

The OEGW will be an independent statutory oversight body, led by a Chair, Deputy Chair, Chief Executive, up to 5 non Executive Board Members, and a supporting staff team. It will hold public authorities, as defined in the Act, and including the Welsh Ministers, to account, in respect of their environmental obligations through powers provided to it in the Act.

Job description

The successful post holder will:

• Lead the establishment and ongoing development of the Office of Environmental Governance,
shaping its organisational strategy, structure, operating model and culture in accordance with its
statutory functions under the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)
(Wales) Act 2026 (the Act).

• Provide visible, inspirational and strategic leadership, building a high-performing, accountable and
engaged workforce focused on delivering the organisation's mission, objectives and statutory
duties.

• Work closely with the Board to set strategic priorities, deliver the organisation's statutory functions,
and ensure effective governance, transparency, accountability and organisational performance.

• Serve as the public face of the organisation, building credibility and trust with stakeholders and
representing the organisation confidently in public, political and professional settings.

• Oversee the effective and proportionate use of the organisation's enforcement powers, ensuring
compliance and improvement activity is evidence-based, aligned with legislative requirements, and
operates within a structured escalation framework that prioritises early engagement and resolution.

• Act as Chief Accounting Officer, ensuring sound financial management, value for money, and the
effective stewardship of public resources.

• Direct the delivery of the strategic plan, ensuring resources are prioritised effectively and
organisational objectives are achieved.

• Promote innovation and continuous improvement by challenging traditional approaches,
encouraging collaboration across sectors, and embedding evidence-informed practice.

• Foster an inclusive organisational culture that champions equality, diversity and inclusion in all
aspects of the organisation's work.

• Strengthen the effectiveness of environmental governance and compliance by providing strategic
oversight and working collaboratively with Welsh Ministers, public authorities, environmental bodies
and other stakeholders.

Person specification

Essential Criteria for the CEO

• We are looking for a CEO who has experience or skills with one or more of the following disciplines:- Environmental law and policy- Environmental science- Investigatory and enforcement proceedings

• Demonstrated success in leading organisations operating in complex regulatory environments through significant change and transformation, providing strategic direction, setting clear priorities, and delivering measurable results that support organisational goals.

• Strong background in overseeing day-to-day operations, resource management, and performance delivery. You will have excellent leadership skills with the proven ability to successfully deliver a wide-reaching programme of change.

• An exceptional ability to communicate and build relationships at all levels, generating confidence, respect, and collaborative working while maintaining and reinforcing the independence and integrity of the body. Strong interpersonal skills are essential, including the ability to negotiate, persuade, and influence appropriately, balancing constructive engagement with objective and independent decision-making.

• A track record of developing an inclusive organisational culture and role-modelling purposeful, authentic and inclusive leadership.

• Resilient with a strong track record of operating effectively in uncertain and complex environments, building and retaining the trust and confidence of Welsh Ministers, partners and communities.

• Proven experience of effectively managing finances for an organisation and ensuring all matters relating to budgets, funding, HR, governance and procurement are effectively reported to the Board.

• Strong analytical capability and sound judgement, with the ability to interpret complex information and apply it effectively in decision making, alongside a clear understanding of the role and importance of core principles in shaping policy.

• Clear understanding of and a commitment to Nolan’s ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’.

Desirable Criteria

• Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

The Welsh Government encourage the successful candidate to develop their Welsh language skills on appointment and will fully support them to do this, with training available. As is the case in respect of other requirements, reasonable adjustments can be discussed on appointment.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Welsh Government contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Before applying for this role, please contact the Goodson Thomas team on 02921674422 or info@goodsonthomas.com for an informal discussion.

• Then, to make an application please visit Goodson Thomas’ website www.goodsonthomas.com/opportunities. If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, www.goodsonthomas.com/cy/opportunities to take you to the Welsh
version of this advert, from where you can apply in Welsh.

• To apply, please upload a CV and personal statement. Please ensure your CV does not exceed 2 sides of A4 and your supporting letter does not exceed 3 sides of A4.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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) (opens in a new window)
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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Please contact the Goodson Thomas team on 02921674422 or info@goodsonthomas.com
Email : info@goodsonthomas.com
Telephone : 02921674422

Salary range

£86,000 per year