Policy Analyst

We’re Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, responsible for regulating water and wastewater services in England and Wales. Our role is to help the sector build trust and confidence with customers, the environment and wider society: keeping water flowing, bills affordable and helping ensure the health of our rivers and waterways. We push hard to improve day-to-day water company performance for customers, including on leakage, sewer flooding and customer service.

We drive the sector to take a longer-term view and to take steps now to protect and enhance the environment, using digital and data innovations and making sure our water supplies are secure for future generations. 

Please read the attached “Candidate Information Pack” to find more about Ofwat and our Values.

The RAPID Directorate

Water is a precious resource. Our water resources are coming under increasing pressure due to population growth, economic development, and climate change. The public and the business  expects that water will be available when needed, but also that the way we use water allows for improvements to the environment from which we take it. These factors all contribute to a growing sense of urgency that we need to act now to develop new efficient national supply options to avoid restrictions in the near future.

In response, RAPID (Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) has been formed to help accelerate the development of new water infrastructure and design future regulatory frameworks. The joint team is made up of the three water regulators: Ofwat, the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate.

It will provide a seamless regulatory interface through working with the industry to promote the development of national water resources infrastructure that is in the best interests of both the user and the environment. RAPID is working alongside the five regional water resources planning groups, to ensure that we have timely delivery of new infrastructure. Where necessary, RAPID will assist the regulators in identifying and overcoming potential regulatory and commercial barriers. RAPID is overseen by a Board chaired by the Ofwat CEO, with membership from each of the regulators. RAPID is also working with Ofwat’s Environment Team in seeking to enhance environmental planning activities.

The successful applicant will be working for Ofwat but allocated to the cross regulator RAPID and Environmental Planning (EP) Directorate to support its work.

***Internal Job Title – Senior Associate, Policy *** 

We are seeking Policy Analyst to join our Regulatory and Commercial team within RAPID and EP Directorate which assists the regulators in identifying and overcoming potential regulatory and commercial barriers for successful major infrastructure delivery. The existing regulatory and commercial frameworks are evolving to take account of new policy, such as on the delivery of major infrastructure through competitive procurement and third parties instead of in-house by water companies, as has historically occurred. For example, there are additional contractual arrangements required between third parties, and that can change the risk profile for projects. Please review our previous consultations available here – RAPID publications – Ofwat – to learn more about our work.

The successful candidate will be leading on a policy area whilst being proactive and taking ownership of the work they are responsible for by engaging within Ofwat, environmental regulators and stakeholders as required. You will be required to apply your judgement and exercise responsibility in line with our strategy and ways of working. You will be instrumental in providing support to colleagues across RAPID and water resources, proactively sharing ideas and knowledge. Equally we will be supporting you and your development through coaching and mentoring.

Key deliverables

Some of the key areas of work include:

• Policy Development
  • Evaluating responses to a forthcoming public consultation on contractual arrangements, assessing how responses might affect our proposed policy approaches, and if required, developing amended options.
  • Contributing to the drafting of the consultation outcome document.
  • Developing proposals for and drafting guidance on different aspects of the frameworks and leading on additional public consultations which will be required before agreeing final policy, including working with communication colleagues to develop and implement an engagement plan.
  • Researching and exploring options for using Ofwat’s statutory code making powers for some areas of guidance.
  • Researching wider policy issues on aspects of existing regulatory and commercial policy, such as interactions with Price Review policy, and developing new policy options, considering their benefits / drawbacks / impacts / costs.

• Implementation
  • Taking the lead on policy areas concerned with the procurement and delivery routes for the major infrastructure projects– this will involve establishing if projects meet a threshold for a statutory procurement route and if so, developing statutory documentation, organising a statutory consultation, considering responses and finalising a decision.

• Engagement
  • Briefings and presentations (internal/external) on the policy areas on which you lead to explain and seek internal agreement to the proposals, and external views.
  • Attending external meetings with regulators, Governments and water industry leads to explain aspects of our regulatory and commercial workstream.

• People Management
  • Some people management/supervision of Associate members of the team, including those on the Graduate Programme.

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

Experience, Skills and Knowledge:

• Lead Criterion: Experience of policy development and implementation within a relevant sector (utilities sector or public sector).
• Ability to work with internal and external stakeholders to gather and share information and to deliver an objective / project.
• Experience of working under pressure, effectively planning, prioritising and managing a varied and changing workload to meet different, and often tight, deadlines.
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team, using creativity and innovative approaches.

Attributes:

• Delivers outcomes
• Creates clarity
• Adaptable thinker
• Promotes Collaboration

You can read more about Attributes in Ofwat’s Framework for Success

Why you should Join Ofwat:

We are forward-thinking, creative, innovative and ambitious. We actively encourage autonomy, collaboration and innovation and we have a unique culture fostered by trust, flexibility and respect.

We strive to ensure our people feel connected and valued, where their voice matters. You will be provided with the space and support to shape your future while taking greater control of your own growth and development.

You will also benefit from:

• • • 25 days annual leave (increasing to max 30 with each year of service) in addition to 10.5 bank holiday and privilege leave days
    • access to exclusive discounts on a range of goods and services such as retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance and gym membership;
    • fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies;
    • up to 3 volunteering days per year;
    • recognition vouchers;
    • enhanced shared parental leave and pay;
    • enhanced sick pay;
    • cycle-to-work scheme;
    • season ticket loan for travel between home and office;
    • health and well-being initiatives

Job contact :

• Name : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk