Programme Support Officer, Major Projects

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 Programme Support Officerto join our Major Projects Team within Major Projects 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.

We are seeking a Programme Support Officer to support our growing Major Projects Team at Associate level. This is a new role within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme Management Office (MWIPMO) team that supports both the Major Project team and RAPID team in the regulatory oversight of the overall Major Water Infrastructure programme. You will play a key role in not only delivering Ofwat's strategy, but also in the development of our approach to the delivery of the Programme. As part of the Delivery Office, you will work support the Programme Management Office in the effective, efficient and smooth functioning of MWIP and the Major Projects team.

This is a unique opportunity for someone looking to expand their experience of working within complex programme and project delivery, and to play a role in the delivery of some of the most important capital projects in the water sector which are vital for the environment, resilience and growth. The portfolio of projects within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme is also essential to meet the needs of current and future customersand your work will directly impact how companies deliver for them. This is an evolving space so would suit someone who is a flexible thinker, able to balance the immediate priorities and help shape the future PMO.

You will need to be proactive and respond flexibly in support the wider work of the programme. You will be involved with the embedding of the Delivery Office as we grow, which includes supporting programme governance, risk management and planning.

To be successful as well as working closely with the Major Projects and RAPID teams you will develop strong working relationships with parter Regulators (Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate) and Defra. You will be expected to uphold high standards of delivery and collaborate with water and wastewater companies to support them to deliver the best value for customers.

Ofwat is a learning organisation, and you will have ample opportunities to further develop your knowledge and experience, as well as consolidate your skillset. We have a well-supported, agile working environment, and a trust-based culture intended to help empower you and enable and support you to succeed within Ofwat. In turn, you will be expected to provide support to colleagues across the organisation, proactively sharing skills and knowledge, and equally will be supported by coaching and mentoring.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Provide day-to-day administrative support to the PMO team, including maintaining accurate records, trackers, and programme documentation.
• Provide administrative support to programme governance activities, including coordinating meetings, preparing documentation, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Support the development and delivery of programme reporting to enable effective oversight and management of projects within the Major Water Infrastructure Programme.
• Support work planning and resource management activities, including contributing to project planning and resource tracking.
• Lead the planning and coordination of internal and external events.
• Assist with budget and contract administration, including raising and tracking purchase orders, receipting invoices, and maintaining spend and contract trackers.
• Support the Delivery Office in maintaining robust processes and controls to enable effective programme delivery, including wider PMO activities and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within Ofwat and with external stakeholders, including partner regulators, Defra, and water and wastewater companies.
• Provide flexible support to the Major Projects team to support the delivery of its programme of work.

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

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead Criterion: A minimum of 2 years experience in a Project or PMO support role, ideally within complex programme and project delivery environments (e.g. large infrastructure or capital delivery programmes, water sector organisations, consultancies, regulators, or government).
2. Lead Criterion: Proven experience providing administrative support for governance structures (e.g. boards, committees, working groups), including coordinating senior-level meetings, preparing agendas, and producing high-quality minutes and action logs.
3. Experience of managing documents and data in line with organisational standards and industry good practice, with an understanding of data governance principles.
4. Strong planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
5. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience of interpreting data to support project delivery and resource management, including contributing to the development and maintenance of project plans.
6. Experience of building and maintaining effective working relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, with the ability to understand requirements, manage expectations, and collaborate to achieve outcomes.
7. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, professional documentation. Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel).
8. Holds, or is working towards, a relevant professional qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, P3O, APM) and/or membership of a recognised professional body.

Attributes

9. Committed learner

10. Adaptable Thinker

11. Delivers Outcomes

Attributes as per Ofwat's Framework for Success for the relevant salary grade. You can read more about Attributes here.