Senior Policy Adviser – Markets & Charging

UK Regulators Network; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental body in the water sector seeks a Senior Policy Adviser to contribute to the regulation of the new connections market. Responsibilities include leading work areas, conducting economic analysis, and engaging with various stakeholders to drive policy development. The position offers flexible and hybrid working options and aims to support inclusive workplace practices. This is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about making a difference in the water sector.

Benefits

Flexible working

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Experience in economic analysis for policy recommendations.
• Ability to draft high-quality reports and publications.
• Experience in engaging with stakeholders from various sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead specific work areas and ensure successful delivery.
• Undertake and commission quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Develop and appraise policy options for the new connections market.
• Engage with external stakeholders to optimize work impact.
• Create an inclusive work environment promoting growth and wellbeing.

Skills

Economic analysis

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Report drafting

Inclusive working environment

Job description

Ofwat – We regulate the water sector in England and Wales. https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/jobs/make-a-splash/

Job Description

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 Senior Policy Adviser to join our Charges and Developer Services Team within the Markets & Charging Directorate. The water sector is entering a new chapter. Following the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report and subsequent White Paper – ‘New Vision for Water’ – the UK government has set out a bold new direction. Ofwat is working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. We’re also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions 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 you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water.

You will join as a Senior Associate, playing a key part in the development of our regulation of the new connections market and our work on charges, as well as linking with our work with new appointees. You will directly contribute to our work on developer services, developing and implementing policy for the regulation of developer services and the new connections market to deliver better outcomes for customers, society and the environment. This includes policies on aspects of our economic regulation, including environmental incentives and protections for customers with limited market choice. You will also contribute to our work on charges, set charging rules, govern how incumbents and new appointees set charges for services, and consider how new demands for potable and non‑potable water should be funded.

Key Deliverables

• Lead on specific work areas, taking responsibility for their successful delivery.
• Undertake (or help to commission) quantitative and qualitative economic analysis.
• Develop policy, including identifying and appraising options, assessing impacts, and making suitable recommendations.
• Draft key parts of reports and publications to a high standard.
• Engage with and present to colleagues and stakeholders to share insights and expertise from our work, so that we are maximising synergies with related work areas and effectively focusing our combined efforts to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.
• Listen to, influence and work with complex, and sometimes difficult, external stakeholders to optimise the impact of our work, including water companies, representative bodies, Government departments, third parties and customers.
• Create and champion an inclusive working environment that supports growth, wellbeing, and continuous improvement in our delivery.
• Strongly contribute to Ofwat’s wider leadership, by engaging, contributing and supporting our work to make Ofwat a great place to be.

Details

• Location: Birmingham, London
• Contract type: Loan, Permanent, Secondment
• Profession: Adviser, Policy, Senior
• Working pattern: Flexible working, Hybrid
• Closing date: 22/02/2026