location: Flexible

salary: £159,984

closing date: 31 October 2025

job description

The Chief Executive is responsible, along with the Board and Chair, for the strategic direction, leadership and operational delivery of NRW’s Corporate Plan. As the organisation's Accounting Officer, the Chief Executive is accountable for the stewardship of resources, organisational performance, and the setting and implementation of NRW’s strategic and business plans.

This is a significant leadership role with a strong focus on delivery, transformation and long-term impact. The postholder will be expected to inspire confidence, drive innovation, and lead a complex organisation through change in collaboration with the Board, the Chair and Executive Team, ensuring that NRW delivers effectively for the people, environment and economy of Wales. They will also lead the organisation to be truly inclusive in relation to equality and diversity.

As an organisation we support flexible working. You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home and a suitable hybrid working pattern will be agreed on appointment.

For a confidential conversation regarding this opportunity, please contact Odgers’ Wales Practice on 02920 783 050 or email us at OdgersWalesPractice@odgers.com

What you will do

Provide strategic leadership through and with the NRW team, setting and delivering key strategic ambitions, priorities, business plans and major projects on time and to budget.

Act as the Accounting Officer, with responsibility for all financial and other resources, managing key risks effectively and ensuring continued value for money and efficiency.

Provide inspiring, confident and empowering people leadership, championing an inclusive culture and the NRW values, and supporting the NRW team to realise their potential and to deliver service excellence.

Collaborate effectively with Welsh Government, who set the legal and policy direction of NRW through acts such as the Environment (Wales) Act and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act, by providing funding, setting targets, and consulting on major decisions to ensure alignment with national goals.

Report on NRW’s progress to Welsh Government (and via the State of Natural Resources Report) and demonstrate how NRW is delivering on Welsh Government priorities.

Build and maintain effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to collaborate on our shared ambitions including ministers, Welsh Government colleagues, trade unions and others across the public, private and third sector.

Report to the NRW Chair and be accountable to the Board. Lead a workforce of around 2,400 people who are based across Wales, with line management responsibility for five executive directors and a budget of around £300 million.

The Chief Executive is designated by the Director General of the Welsh Government as the Accounting Officer for NRW, subject to confirmation of their suitability for this role, and is accountable to the Director General for the discharge of this function. In your role as Accounting Officer, you will be called upon to appear before the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee of the Senedd.

Undertake health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post

Be committed to Natural Resources Wales Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy, together with an understanding of how it operates within the responsibilities of the post

Be committed to your own development and that of your staff through the effective use of your personal development plan (known as Sgwrs).

Person Specification

Essential

An exceptional leader with a track record of strategic leadership and management at Chief Executive or senior executive level in a complex, large scale, multi stakeholder organisation.

Track record of working in public policy frameworks and experience of engaging effectively with ministers, senior government officials and stakeholders.

An inspirational communicator who can represent NRW as the single, integrated voice on nature, climate and natural resources in Wales.

The ability to speak Welsh or a commitment to learn and use Welsh in the workplace is expected, in line with NRW’s Welsh Language policy.

Proven ability to lead the delivery of evidence-based, strategic outcomes that respond to the needs of diverse communities, customers and stakeholders.

Inspiring and inclusive leadership skills, with a demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Proven expertise in developing motivated, engaged, high-performing teams who care about NRW, and in investing in their skills and capabilities to carry out their roles and act as confident ambassadors of NRW’s mission and values.

Evidence of leading organisation change and transformation to deliver service improvement and efficiency, whilst harnessing knowledge and expertise across boundaries.

Experience of operating with authority and credibility in complex, technically demanding and politically sensitive environments, demonstrating sound judgement, resilience and the ability to lead through ambiguity and challenge.

Evidence of having the ability to be designated Accounting Officer by Welsh Government in relation to these responsibilities: ensure the safeguarding of public funds, effective governance and internal control to support the delivery of NRW’s objectives, sound financial reporting in line with government requirements; and being accountable to Welsh Government and the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) for the regularity, propriety, and value for money of NRW’s use of resources.

Desirable

A passion for the environment and for supporting communities across Wales.

Knowledge and understanding of the issues relating to the sustainable management of Wales’ natural resources.

Welsh language level requirements

Essential: A1 – Entry level

Desirable: C2 - Higher proficiency level

Welsh language levels

Please note if you do not meet the level A1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 28.97% (successful internal staff will remain in their current pension scheme)

28 days annual leave, rising to 33 days

Relocation of up to £8,000 (tax free)

generous leave entitlements for all your life needs

commitment to professional development

health and wellbeing benefits and support

weekly wellbeing hour to use as you choose

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

How to apply 

The closing date for applications is 31 October 2025

Job Reference Number: 200000

For a confidential conversation regarding this opportunity, please contact Odgers’ Wales Practice on 02920 783 050 or email us at OdgersWalesPractice@odgers.com

To apply, please submit the following to 94228@odgers.com:

CV

Brief cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the requirements.

Please don't apply directly to Natural Resources Wales.

All applications will be acknowledged. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. We welcome applications in Welsh or English. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than those in English.

You will also be asked to complete an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form. This information is treated in strict confidence and will not affect your application.

Selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a three-stage process:

Psychometric Assessment: Delivered by Odgers, assessing leadership style, cognitive strengths, and behavioural preferences.

Staff Engagement Panel: A session with a cross-section of staff focused on leadership approach, values, and organisational culture.

Final Interview: In-person interviews held in Cardiff with senior stakeholders to explore strategic fit and leadership capability.

Please keep reading

We’re passionate about creating a diverse workforce and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities. We embrace equality of opportunity irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.  

We are committed to equal opportunities, and we guarantee interviews for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We are a bilingual organisation which complies with the Welsh Language Standards.  Welsh language skills are considered an asset to NRW and we encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills. 

You are welcome to apply for any vacancy in Welsh or English and any application submitted will be treated equally. Applications are welcome from individuals who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time.

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