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

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