Nicole McArthur

I Led DAERA’s transition to a dual-reporting structure under the Windsor Framework, supporting both Departmental and UK Government Ministers. Delivered strategic plans through cross-departmental collaboration across DAERA, NICS, and UKG, fostering strong relationships and effective communication. Developed and secured endorsement for the Directorate Business Plan and Programme Strategy from senior leadership to deliver and support the full and faithful implementation of the Framework.

NICS-Wide Transformation Programme

• Strategic Leadership: Spearheaded the development of a comprehensive Programme Change Management Strategy and Plan, alongside a Stakeholder and Communication Plan and Benefits Management Plan, all of which received Board endorsement.
• Change Delivery: Successfully delivered Phase 1 and part of Stage 2 of the Programme’s Change Strategy, driving forward key transformation milestones.
• Finance Transformation: Led strategic change initiatives across a range of finance functions, preparing the organisation for its future transformation state.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Built strong, collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in throughout the transformation journey.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Directed cross-functional teams to achieve shared objectives, fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
• Governance and Communication: Orchestrated stakeholder meetings to maintain strategic alignment and developed clear, comprehensive programme documentation to communicate change initiatives effectively.

High-Profile, Complex Transformation Programme

• Leadership & Delivery: Led multidisciplinary teams across infrastructure, systems, people, process, and operational policy workstreams within a dynamic and high-pressure programme environment.
• Strategic Planning & Funding: Secured £145 million in programme funding and successfully planned, led, and delivered the programme within a formal governance structure, reporting to the highest levels of Government.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Worked in close partnership with a diverse range of stakeholders to ensure alignment, transparency, and shared ownership of programme outcomes.
• Quality & Outcomes: Delivered high-quality results with strict adherence to quality standards across all phases of the programme.
• Phase 1: Completed contingency arrangements and delivered robust, high-quality outcomes.
• Phase 2: Delivered to RIBA Stage 4, with full Final Business Case approval secured, enabling progression to implementation.

Mobuoy Remediation Programme

• Programme Delivery: Led the delivery of the Mobuoy Remediation applying PRINCE2 methodology and reporting to both the Programme Board and Programme Steering Group.
• Portfolio Leadership: Directed project portfolios focused on remediation, environmental protection, and enforcement, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and regulatory standards.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Worked in close partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, fostering trust and shared ownership of outcomes.
• Technical Oversight: Managed a team of subject matter experts and conducted detailed data reviews to provide technical advice and inform strategic direction of remediation and enforcement.
• Governance & Assurance: Maintained rigorous programme governance and ensured delivery against environmental and scientific standards.

• Team Leadership: Managed scientific, regulatory, and administrative staff delivering enforcement and regulatory functions under multiple waste-related statutes.
• Statutory Consultee Oversight: Led the coordination and delivery of statutory consultee responses, ensuring compliance with waste and regulatory requirements.
• Policy & Regulatory Reform: Drove regulatory improvements and policy development in collaboration with NIEA, industry partners, and stakeholders.
• Compliance Improvement: Achieved a measurable increase in sector compliance through proactive engagement, provision of technical advice, and targeted enforcement actions.

• Investigations Leadership: Led complex investigations into environmental crime, requiring multi-agency collaboration and detailed evidence gathering.
• Operational Delivery: Conducted intrusive surveys and coordinated evidence collection in partnership with PSNI, prepared case files for PPS, and provided expert testimony in court.
• Regulatory Oversight: Worked within the Waste Licensing and Regulation Team, providing guidance to customers, processing applications, and ensuring compliance across the waste industry.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Delivered regulatory advice and support to industry stakeholders, balancing enforcement with education to drive improved compliance.
• Impact: Strengthened environmental protection through rigorous enforcement and proactive regulation, contributing to sector-wide improvements.

• Regulatory Oversight: Delivered enforcement and regulation of statutory instruments across regulated and unregulated sites in the industrial, agricultural, and water utility sectors.
• Pollution Management: Led investigations, responses, and prevention strategies for pollution incidents, ensuring environmental protection and legal compliance.
• Legal Enforcement: Enforced environmental legislation, including preparing prosecution files and providing expert evidence in court.
• Project Leadership: Managed improvement projects for freshwater bodies, contributing to environmental restoration and sustainability goals.
• Licensing Expertise: Processed discharge licence applications, ensuring alignment with environmental standards and statutory requirements.

£6M Annual Turnover

• Commercial Leadership: Maximised profits and drove sales in a high-turnover retail environment, achieving strong financial performance and growth.
• Operational Management: Oversaw all store operations including security, health and safety, cost control, and business planning, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
• People Leadership: Managed recruitment, development, and performance of store teams, fostering a high-performing and customer-focused culture.
• Stock & Demand Management: Maintained optimal stock levels to meet customer demand, improving availability and reducing waste.
• Performance Turnaround: Transformed a poor-performing stockroom with high cash and unit losses into one of the best-performing stores in the region, through targeted interventions and operational improvements.

Infrastructure & Contaminated Land Projects

• Site Investigation: Conducted geotechnical investigations on major road-building projects, contaminated land sites, and smaller infrastructure developments, including trial pit analysis and evaluation.
• Environmental Monitoring: Performed surface water, groundwater, and effluent sampling and monitoring, supporting pollution investigations and environmental compliance.
• Pollution prevention: Delivered site analysis and pollution response strategies, contributing to environmental protection and risk mitigation.

High-Profile Retail Branch (£2M Annual Turnover)
Top-Level Sales/Site Supervisor, 1999–2003

• Operational Leadership: Supported the day-to-day running of a high-density retail store, overseeing business planning, administration, and customer service excellence.
• Team Development: Played a key role in staff recruitment, training, and development, contributing to a motivated and high-performing team.
• Financial Oversight: Handled cash and stock management, cost control, and key holder responsibilities with a focus on accuracy and accountability.
• Visual Merchandising: Delivered engaging and brand-aligned visual merchandising strategies to drive footfall and sales.