Director Wastewater

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Wastewater Director to join our Design and Delivery Team within the Price Review Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report , the Welsh Governments response to the Green Paper , Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales , and the Governments White Paper, A new vision for water .

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If youre passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.

The Price Review Design and Delivery Team is at the heart of Ofwats economic regulation of the water sector. We are responsible for setting the framework that drives company performance and investment, ensuring customers receive the services they pay for and that companies deliver better outcomes for customers, communities and the environment.

In December 2024 we concluded Price Review 2024 (PR24), approving record levels of investment by water companies over the next five years. This investment will support cleaner rivers and seas, more resilient water and wastewater services, environmental improvements and critical infrastructure across England and Wales.

Our focus now is twofold: ensuring that companies deliver on their PR24 commitments and shaping the next price review, PR29. As the sector responds to the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission and the Government's White Paper, the Directorate is playing a central role in designing the future regulatory framework for the water sector.

The Wastewater Team plays a critical role within the Price Review Design and Delivery Team . Working alongside economists, engineers, environmental specialists, policy professionals and financial experts, the team provides leadership on wastewater planning, investment assessment, regulatory policy and delivery assurance. The team helps ensure that wastewater investment delivers tangible improvements for customers and the environment while supporting resilience, innovation and long-term value .

The Role

The Price Review Director Wastewater is a key part of the price review leadership team and has an important and valuable role to enable us to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments.

You will be contributing to the development of Ofwats strategic direction, demonstrating effective leadership and actively participating in cross working and multi-functional teams.

The role will cover oversight and assessment of delivery against PR24 commitments, lead assessment of wastewater in-period determinations, input into the development of planning frameworks, and lead on aspects of the methodology for the next price review.

You will also be expected to contribute to the wider leadership of the engineering profession. You will have the overarching responsibility for leading the design and developing key elements of the approach and the methodology for PR29, as well as coordinating development across Ofwat.

You will lead a multidisciplinary team and will be expected to work across a range of policy, strategy and monitoring roles including current price review policy issues.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead the wastewater team including assessment of investment submissions under cost change, oversight on PR24 delivery and assessment of companies' delivery plans, Ofwat's input into Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMP), WINEP (wastewater), and PR29 development.
• Support the development of Future regulatory approaches - Engage with Defra, quality regulators, ENGO's and other stakeholders on the development of future regulatory approaches for PR29. Here you will provide thought leadership and help to develop regulatory policy and an appropriate framework for the assessment of spending and investment with a particular focus on embedding engineering expertise into economic assessment.
• Lead and manage a team of approx. 10 , with 3-4 direct reports. You will be responsible for ensuring your team has the right structure and capabilities, for keeping your team engaged and for promoting your teams well-being. You will ensure your team adheres to Ofwats People Policies.
• Engage with general wastewater related policy issues , including storm overflows, bioresources, wastewater networks, and wastewater treatment, providing senior steers on an ad hoc basis.
• Act as Head of Profession for Wastewater as part of the Water Engineering Science and Technology (WEST) Profession, taking responsibility for discipline related resourcing, skills matrix, future needs, and learning and development.
• Represent Ofwat externally and manage critical relationships with Defra, the primary environmental regulators (Environment Agency, Natural England and Natural Resources Wales), eNGOs, innovators and other critical stakeholders in England and Wales.
• Lead senior level internal engagement on policy issues with Ofwat's Senior Leadership team (SLT), and the Board. Consider and shape policy in response to feedback and inputs from multidisciplinary teams.
• Drive internal collaboration , working across all Ofwat's teams to deliver change, champion innovation and better environmental outcomes.
• Play a meaningful and visible role on a range of leadership issues as a part of Ofwat's extended leadership team (ELT).
• Demonstrate strong, visible leadership , through effective communication tools, stakeholder and role modelling the Ofwat's SAILOR value.

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead criterion 1 : Fellowship of ICE, CIWEM, ...