Water Reform Legislation Lead

Job summary

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 Water Reform Legislation Lead to join our Integration Unit Team within the Government Engagement and WalesDirectorate.

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 Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s 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 you’re 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.

Job description

The role will be based in the Office of the Chief of Staff, within the Integration Unit. The Integration unit was established in May 2026 to provide central coordination of Ofwat's transition to the new integrated water regulator. As a newly created and high-profile function, the unit plays a pivotal role in supporting one of the most significant transformation programmes in Ofwat's history.

The team works across the organisation to ensure that transition activity, legislative reform and the wider water reform programme are strategically aligned, effectively coordinated and delivered in a coherent and well-sequenced way. It provides senior leaders with the insight, coordination and assurance needed to support informed decision-making and successful delivery.

The Water Reform Legislation Lead role has an important and valuable contribution to enable us to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments.

We are looking for a Senior Associate to join Ofwat’s Integration unit as our Water Reform Legislation Lead. This is a unique opportunity to work at the centre of Ofwat’s contribution to the Clean Water Bill and the wider transition to a new integrated water regulator.

The role will coordinate Ofwat’s input into legislation being led by DEFRA, bringing together expertise from across policy, legal and operational teams so that Ofwat can provide clear, timely and well-evidenced advice. The postholder will work closely with DEFRA’s Bill team, Ofwat senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to track legislative developments, manage risks and dependencies, and support effective engagement at each stage of the Bill process.

This role would suit someone with experience working in collaborative environments where priorities, timescales and direction can evolve. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strong organisational and coordination skills, an ability to work effectively through ambiguity, and experience influencing stakeholders and securing collaboration across organisational boundaries. As DEFRA owns the Bill and the wider legislative process, the role requires a pragmatic and adaptable approach to delivery.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead the coordination of Ofwat’s input into the Clean Water Bill and further secondary legislation flowing from this, ensuring that contributions from across the organisation are brought together, tested and provided to DEFRA in a timely and coherent way.
• Act as a key link between Ofwat and DEFRA’s Bill team, supporting effective working relationships, clarifying asks and deadlines, and helping Ofwat respond constructively to DEFRA’s requirements.
• Coordinate Ofwat’s policy, legal, and operational expertise so that Ofwat’s advice is well-evidenced, joined up and reflects the breadth of organisational knowledge.
• Maintain a clear overview of legislative activity, milestones, risks and dependencies, ensuring that Ofwat understands what is required, by when, and where senior input or decision-making is needed.
• Prepare clear briefings, updates and products for senior leaders, including summaries of legislative developments, key issues, risks, choices and areas where Ofwat may seek to influence Government’s thinking.
• Work closely with Legal, Government Engagement, policy and Communications colleagues to ensure that Ofwat’s legislative input is aligned with wider stakeholder engagement, communications and organisational priorities.
• Identify and manage risks and issues relating to Ofwat’s contribution to the Bill, including capacity pressures, unclear ownership, competing priorities and dependencies on Government or partner regulators.
• Support the wider work of the Integration Unit and Office of the Chief of Staff, providing flexible support across strategic, corporate and programme priorities as business needs evolve. This includes contributing to the transition to a new regulator and other high-priority activities, recognising that legislative reform is one part of a broader programme of change.

Person specification

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

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead criterion: Significant experience leading or coordinating complex policy work across multiple teams or organisations, with the ability to bring together diverse views, evidence and expertise into clear, evidence-based advice and recommendations for decision-makers that align with wider organisational objectives.
2. Experience working collaboratively across different professional disciplines, bringing together expertise from areas such as policy, legal, communications, governance or corporate services to support effective decision-making.
3. Experience operating effectively in ambiguity and change, demonstrating resilience, adaptability and sound judgement in programmes where priorities, timelines and direction may evolve.
4. Strong organisational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage multiple workstreams, track actions, identify dependencies and maintain oversight of delivery in a fast-paced environment.
5. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise and influential written and verbal communications for a range of audiences, including senior leaders.
6. Strong influencing skills, with experience building trusted relationships and securing collaboration across teams and organisations without relying on formal authority.
7. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify risks, issues and trade-offs, develop practical solutions, and provide balanced recommendations to senior stakeholders.

Attributes

8. Adaptable thinker
9. Deliver outcomes
10. Create clarity

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

Benefits

Why You Should Join Us:

Our people are at the heart of Ofwat, and our People Strategy defines the goals that keep this focus central to everything we do. Our 2025 People Survey highlights several key strengths. Nine in ten colleagues say that they are treated with respect and that Ofwat values individual differences. The same proportion say that their work is meaningful and that they are being trusted to carry out their roles effectively. 79% of our people rated their manager highly, and 85% described their team environment as positive.

You will also benefit from:

• Good employer pension contributions.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing to 30 with each year of service) plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave
• Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership
• Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year
• Recognition vouchers scheme
• Generous shared parental leave and pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Regular development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel
• Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users

Moving to Ofwat from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Find out more at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

How to apply

Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.

Please see the candidate guidance on our website for more detail and tips on how to best make your application and prepare for interview.

Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.

Selection timetable

• Closing date: 23.55 on 13 September 2026
• Sifting: Week commencing14 September 2026
• Interview date(s): Week commencing 28 September 2026

Assessment process

Sift Stage - Blind Sifting

We operate a blind sifting model to eliminate bias. All candidate identifying information will be removed from applications.

At sift stage we will assess your application (CV and personal statement) against essential criteria 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 listed above. Please ensure you provide enough evidence in your application form to demonstrate how you meet the criteria.

*Please note that in the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the lead criterion.

** If a high volume of candidates meet the minimum pass mark at sift stage, we will only progress the highest scoring candidates to interview. Candidates not invited to interview, who have achieved the minimum pass mark, will be placed 'on hold' until the final stage of the assessment process is completed. Should the role/s remain unfilled, candidates placed 'on hold' may be invited to interview in merit order.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews and Presentation

At interview stage we will test against essential skills, experience, knowledge and attributes set out above.

Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a selection of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.

You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.

Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).

As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates upon invitation to interview.

Please ensure anything you present in your interview answers is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. You may expect follow up questions.

It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required.

If the assessment process identifies more appointable candidates than roles available, a reserve list will be created for 12 months from which further appointments in merit order can be made.

'Near-miss' candidates (candidates who have performed well at interview stage but haven’t scored high enough for the advertised Senior Associate band) may be considered (in merit order) for an Associate grade post – a band lower than Senior Associate. Further details will be provided to candidates as needed.

If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

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

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints procedure - The process of recruitment and assessment embraces the principles of fair and open competition and best practice. The first is to maintain the principle of selection for appointment to the Civil Service on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. The second is to promote an understanding of the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-code/the-civil… which sets out the constitutional framework in which all civil servants work and the values they are expected to uphold, and to hear and determine appeals made under it. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from us, you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk

Attachments

Candidate Pack - BC-1097 SA Water Reform Lead July 27 Opens in new window (pdf, 698kB)