General Counsel
Posted by: The Office for Environmental Protection
Employed By: The Office for Environmental Protection
Job Title: General Counsel
Salary: £86,000 - £117,800
Contract: Full-time
Location: Worcester - with hybrid working
Application Deadline: 23 September 2026 at 23:55
Job description
The Office for Environmental Protection’s (the OEP) mission is to protect and improve the environment by holding government and other public bodies to account. We do this by reporting on progress against environmental targets, advising on proposed changes to environmental law, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of environmental law, and receiving and investigating public complaints that may lead to enforcement action.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the legal strategy, legal voice and developing jurisprudence of a nationally significant independent environmental governance body. The role holder will lead the OEP’s Legal Directorate of around 14 lawyers,
helping to establish and maintain the OEP’s reputation as an expert, independent and trusted public body.
Reporting to the Chief Executive, the General Counsel (GC) is an Executive Director of the OEP, Chief Legal Officer, Head of Legal Profession, and a core member of both the Executive Team and Executive Committee. The GC has direct access to the Board and Chair on matters requiring independent legal advice, including legal risk, propriety, independence, or governance issues. As a senior leader, the GC shapes strategic decision-making, champions organisational values, and leads external engagement with public authority legal officers, legal practitioners, academics, the judiciary, and key stakeholders across environmental and regulatory law.
The GC safeguards the OEP’s statutory independence, ensuring that its advice, governance, and decision-making support the lawful, proportionate, and evidence-based exercise of powers across England, Northern Ireland, and reserved UK matters. Leading the Legal Directorate, the GC upholds professional standards, builds legal capability, and fosters an inclusive, innovative, and high-performing culture. The GC leads the legal team to provide full-spectrum legal, governance, and professional support across all OEP functions. Operating as a centre of excellence, the team enables the effective use of statutory powers by balancing opportunity with legal risk management. They advise on daily matters, strategic decisions, and projects monitoring environmental law, while advising government on proposed legal changes and reporting on progress towards environmental ambitions.
Working closely with the complaints and investigations team and alongside the Chief Regulatory Officer, the GC oversees litigation strategy for enforcement actions, ensuring judicial reviews and environmental reviews are effectively conducted, lawful, proportionate, and impact-focused. The GC also leads interventions in third-party judicial reviews to enhance the OEP’s standing as a credible, independent authority. Additionally, the team handles wider corporate governance—including FOI, data protection, employment, and commercial law—while providing strategic legal insight to the OEP's horizon scanning function.
For the full job description, roles and responsibilities, and person specification, please click on the link on the OEP website.