Chief Executive and Accounting Officer

The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer 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.

Learning and organisational performance

• Provide overall leadership of Natural Resources Wales, ensuring delivery of its statutory purpose, strategic objectives and long term sustainability.
• Lead NRW as a single integrated organisation, creating clarity of direction, alignment of priorities and collective accountability for organisational performance.
• Lead and develop a high performing Executive Team, fostering a culture of trust, challenge, collaboration, inclusion and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrate visible corporate leadership and personal accountability for the organisation's performance, culture, reputation and governance and stewardship of public resources.
• Model NRW values and the Nolan Principles of Public Life, setting expectations for leadership, behaviour, integrity and accountability across the organisation.
• Promote organisational wellbeing, inclusion, engagement and capability, ensuring NRW remains a resilient and sustainable organisation able to meet future challenges.
• Build leadership capability, succession planning and organisational resilience to support long term performance and continuity.

Strategy, Governance & Assurance

• Set and sustain the strategic direction of NRW, ensuring organisational priorities, resources and capability are aligned to deliver environmental, societal and organisational outcomes.
• Lead development and delivery of NRW's Corporate Plan and strategic priorities, balancing short term performance requirements with long term sustainability.
• Serve as principal advisor to the Board and Chair, providing professional advice, evidence, assurance and strategic insight to support effective governance and decision making.
• Ensure robust governance, performance, risk management, assurance and internal control arrangements are established and operating effectively across NRW.
• Provide assurance to the Board regarding organisational performance, statutory delivery, financial stewardship, risk management and organisational resilience.
• Respond constructively to Board scrutiny, audit, inspection and assurance activity, ensuring learning is embedded and organisational performance continuously improves.

Drive and resilience

• Provide visible, decisive leadership in complex, uncertain and high‑profile environments, maintaining organisational focus and momentum.
• Exercise sound executive and Accounting Officer judgement on complex, contested and high‑risk issues, balancing public interest, statutory duties and long‑term outcomes.
• Lead NRW through significant change and transformation, sustaining resilience, confidence and performance under pressure.
• Demonstrate courageous leadership, making difficult decisions when required and taking…