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

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.

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.

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)

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.