The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)

The OEP is a new public body, established with the principal objective of contributing to environmental protection and improving the natural environment. It will support Parliament in holding government to account on its environmental commitments and environmental law.

We do this by:

• Monitoring and reporting on the government’s environmental improvement plans and targets

• Monitoring and reporting on the implementation of environmental law

• Advising government on proposed changes to environmental law, and other matters related to the natural environment

• Investigating suspected serious failures to comply with environmental law by public authorities and enforcing compliance where needed

We also receive complaints from the public about suspected failures to comply with environmental law.

The OEP was legally created in November 2021, under the Environment Act 2021. Our work covers England and Northern Ireland.

The natural environment is important for everyone and we aim for our teams to reflect the diversity of our society. Your personal qualities will be as important as your professional experience and applications are welcomed from all backgrounds.

The OEP will be based at a Worcester location. Worcester is a thriving county town with three mainline stations providing good links to London, Bristol, and Birmingham. Staff will initially be contractually based at Worcestershire County Hall, and then at a new Worcester OEP office location, details of which will be shared with the successful candidates.

The OEP is a non-departmental public body sponsored by Defra. This means it will operate independently from Defra and will not be part of the UK Civil Service.