Executive Director, National Operations

The role

Join Natural Resources Wales as our Executive Director, National Operations, and play a leading role in shaping the future of Wales' largest Welsh Government-sponsored body.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) plays a vital role in the sustainable management of Wales' natural resources, helping to ensure that people and nature can thrive now and for future generations.

We are strengthening how we deliver national services and organisational support functions, ensuring the systems, services and capabilities that underpin NRW are resilient, efficient and equipped to meet current and future challenges.

This is an opportunity to join a refreshed Executive Team and help shape the next chapter of NRW, ensuring the organisation is well positioned to respond to increasing environmental demands, changing public expectations and the evolving needs of Wales.

As Executive Director, National Operations, you will lead nationally delivered services that are critical to the effectiveness, resilience and reputation of NRW. Your leadership will directly influence how the organisation supports operational delivery, responds to major incidents, delivers high quality services and continuously improves performance across Wales.

You will lead a significant and diverse portfolio, ensuring services are delivered consistently, effectively and with a strong focus on customer outcomes, public value and organisational priorities. Working across a complex and constantly evolving landscape, you will build organisational resilience, manage competing demands and drive continuous improvement in the way NRW delivers for the people of Wales.

As a member of the Executive Team, you will contribute to the overall leadership of NRW, helping to shape organisational strategy, influence national priorities and support collective decision making. You will take responsibility not only for your own portfolio but also for the success and long term sustainability of NRW as a whole.

We're looking for a leader who can build trust and confidence with a wide range of stakeholders. You will work closely with Welsh Government, regulators, partners and stakeholders, developing strong relationships that enable collaboration, influence and shared outcomes. You will represent NRW at the most senior levels and act as a visible ambassador for the organisation.

A key aspect of the role is creating the conditions for others to succeed. You will develop leaders, champion wellbeing and inclusion, and foster a culture where people feel valued, supported and empowered to perform at their best. Through courageous, authentic and compassionate leadership, you will bring people together around a shared purpose and help lead NRW through future challenges and opportunities.

This is an opportunity to shape the future of Natural Resources Wales and make a lasting contribution to the organisation's capability, resilience and impact across Wales.

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. Any regular face to face meetings or training will be planned in advance.

To discuss this opportunity

For an informal and confidential discussion regarding this opportunity and to receive the Candidate Pack, please contact the team at Goodson Thomas on 029 2167 4422 or info@goodsonthomas.com .

What you will do

Leadership and organisational contribution

• Contribute to collective Executive Team leadership and organisational performance.
• Demonstrate corporate leadership and accountability for the success of NRW as a whole, beyond the boundaries of the directorate.
• Model NRW values and inclusive leadership, setting clear expectations, accountability and high standards of behaviour.
• Demonstrate courageous and ethical leadership, making evidence based decisions and taking responsibility for organisational outcomes and challenges.
• Act as a visible and credible organisational leader, communicating with clarity, authenticity and influence across a diverse range of audiences.
• Champion NRW's wellbeing objective, promoting a culture that supports employee wellbeing, inclusion, engagement and sustainable organisational performance.
• Hold senior leaders to account for operational delivery, regulatory compliance, staff wellbeing, capability development, financial stewardship and performance outcomes.
• Build leadership capability and lead on workforce development, succession planning and organisational resilience.
• Lead through senior leaders and multiple operational layers, ensuring that performance expectations, statutory responsibilities, risk controls, resilience requirements and organisational priorities are delivered consistently across national services.

Operational delivery and resilience

• Hold executive accountability for safe, consistent and effective national operational delivery.
• Hold executive accountability for the leadership, performance and resilience of nationally delivered operational services, including Flood Risk and Incident Management, Strategic Projects, Land Stewardship, Marine Operations, Planning, Development and Permitting.
• Ensure NRW is operationally prepared to support the requirements of the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024, including planning, development, permitting, marine and environmental advisory functions associated with significant infrastructure projects across Wales.
• Provide executive oversight of nationally delivered services, ensuring consistency, quality and customer focus for internal and external service users across Wales.
• Ensure statutory duties, regulatory requirements and public safety obligations are met.
• Maintain a resilient operating model, including incident and emergency preparedness.
• Lead through complexity, risk and organisational change while sustaining performance.
• Ensure national services drive NRW's statutory purpose, public safety responsibilities, environmental outcomes and long term organisational priorities.
• Take ultimate executive responsibility within the directorate for national operational delivery, incident readiness, service resilience, statutory compliance, risk escalation, performance recovery and delivery of agreed outcomes.

Service quality and outcomes

• Ensure services are customer centred, accessible and deliver high-quality outcomes.
• Balance operational performance, environmental outcomes and customer experience.
• Drive continuous improvement using insight, learning and feedback.
• Promote a culture that values customers, colleagues and service excellence.
• Ensure national operational services deliver consistent standards and drive effective service outcomes across Wales.

Strategy, governance and assurance

• Shape strategic direction using evidence, operational intelligence and professional judgement.
• Ensure strong governance, risk management and performance frameworks.
• Provide assurance and advice to the Board and respond constructively to scrutiny.
• Oversee effective use of resources, ensuring value for money and alignment to priorities.
• Promote integrity, transparency and accountability consistent with the Nolan Principles of Public Life.
• Provide executive assurance on the performance and governance of National Operations, including accountability for income of approximately £34.8 million and expenditure of approximately £74.3 million.
• Ensure financial plans are robust, budgets are actively managed, risks and opportunities are addressed, and resources are deployed effectively to steer operational delivery, regulatory activity, public safety, environmental outcomes and strategic priorities
• Provide advice and recommendations that carry significant weight with the Chief Executive, Executive Team and Board in relation to national operational performance, incident readiness, statutory delivery, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, strategic risk and organisational resilience.

Partnerships and influence

• Build trusted relationships with Welsh Government, partners and stakeholders.
• Represent NRW at senior forums and influence national outcomes.
• Enable collaboration across national, place based and corporate functions.
• Influence and build confidence through effective communication, credibility and professional leadership.
• Represent NRW in complex discussions relating to national operational delivery, public safety, incident management, regulatory delivery, strategic projects, land stewardship, marine operations, planning, development and permitting.
• Influence outcomes across local, national and strategic forums, including situations involving competing priorities, operational sensitivity, public scrutiny and different stakeholder perspectives.
• Exercise senior level influence and negotiation with Welsh Government, regulators, local authorities, communities, partners and stakeholders where there are competing priorities, public scrutiny, environmental sensitivities, regulatory requirements and differing stakeholder expectations.

Transformation and improvement

• Lead innovation and continuous improvement in service delivery and operating models.
• Sponsor major programmes and ensure delivery of benefits and outcomes.
• Foster a culture of learning, adaptability and organisational improvement.
• Bring people with them through change by creating engagement, understanding and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Lead significant organisational transformation through senior leaders, ensuring effective planning, delivery, communication, benefits realisation and risk management.

Additional responsibilities

• 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).
• Required to take part in incident response activities.
• Any other reasonable duties requested commensurate with the grade of this role.

Your qualifications, experience, knowledge and skills

• Degree level qualification, relevant professional qualification or equivalent executive level experience, supported by evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience operating at Executive, Director or Board level within a large, complex and publicly accountable organisation, with responsibility for organisational performance, risk, governance and delivery.
• Demonstrable experience of leading large scale operational, regulatory or service delivery functions, ensuring services are delivered safely, lawfully, efficiently and in line with strategic objectives.
• Proven ability to provide corporate leadership beyond functional boundaries, contributing to organisational wide decision making and taking collective accountability for the success, reputation and sustainability of the whole organisation.
• Evidence of leading significant organisational transformation and improvement programmes, delivering measurable outcomes through others within complex and changing environments
• Credible track record of building and sustaining effective relationships with government, regulators, partners, communities and senior stakeholders, influencing outcomes at local, national and strategic levels.
• Exceptional communication and engagement skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues with clarity, credibility and authenticity, building trust and confidence across a diverse range of audiences.
• Demonstrable experience of leading people through uncertainty and change, creating engagement, maintaining wellbeing and bringing colleagues and stakeholders on the journey to achieve shared outcomes
• Proven ability to exercise sound judgement and make complex, high impact decisions, balancing evidence, risk, public value, environmental outcomes and organisational priorities while taking accountability for outcomes.
• Demonstrable commitment to ethical leadership, inclusion and the Nolan Principles of Public Life, with a track record of fostering cultures characterised by integrity, transparency, accountability and respect.
• Ability to prioritise deliverables within a complex organisation, having a performance mind-set and a proactive can-do attitude with strong, creative problem-solving skills to address issues that appear intractable.

Welsh Language level requirements

• Essential: Level A1 - Entry level
• Desirable: Level C2 - Higher proficiency level

Welsh language levels

Please note if you do not meet the 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.

Application Process

To apply, please submit:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A covering letter of no more than 1,500 words (or two pages) explaining:
• Your motivation for applying.
• How your skills, experience and leadership approach meet the requirements of the role.

Following an initial assessment, shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in the following selection process:

• Stage One: Psychometric Assessment

Candidates will undertake an executive psychometric assessment from 5th October administered by Goodson Thomas.

• Stage Two: Colleague Engagement Panel

Candidates will participate in a virtual colleague engagement session during the week commencing 19th October. Further details regarding the format and discussion topic will be provided in advance.

• Stage Three: Media Assessment

Candidates will complete a media assessment designed to evaluate their communication, stakeholder management and leadership capabilities. This assessment will take place at the Welsh Government Offices, Cathays Park, Cardiff from 10th - 12th November.

• Stage Four: Final Interview

Final interviews will be held in person at the same location from 10th - 12th November.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the work the successful candidate must be eligible for Security Check (SC) clearance. This generally requires five years' continuous residency in the UK. Further details on eligibility can be found on National security vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK . Offers will also be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) check.

This role meets the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. Natural Resources Wales welcomes applications from non-UK citizens who are eligible to apply under this route, subject to confirmation by the Home Office.

The applicant must still meet the UK Skilled Worker Visa Eligibility and Requirement. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa

Benefits

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

• Relocation of up to £8,000 (tax free)*
• 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
• 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.

Please keep reading

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion by embedding fair treatment and respect for all. We adopt the Social Model of Disability and we support Welsh Government's Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan, aiming for an anti-racist culture by 2030. We aim to ensure accessible services and an inclusive workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve.

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're welcome to submit your application through the medium of Welsh. All applications submitted are treated equally. We welcome applications from applicants who wish to work full-time, part-time or on a job-sharing basis.

• unless currently a member of a (NRW) legacy body scheme.

(For office use: GGL / ENV / GRJ)