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Director Wastewater
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 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 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 Price Review Design and Delivery Team is at the heart of Ofwat’s 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 Ofwat’s 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 team’s well-being. You will ensure your team adheres to Ofwat’s 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.
Person specification
To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:
Experience, skills and knowledge
- Lead criterion 1: Fellowship of ICE, CIWEM, or a relevant professional engineering or asset management body.
- Lead criterion 2: Substantial professional experience in engineering or asset management technical discipline, including applying this knowledge to regulation.
- Lead criterion 3: Understanding of the strategic context of the water sector including up-to-date knowledge of wastewater planning frameworks.
- Understanding of economic regulation of the water sector, including knowledge of cost assessment techniques.
- Experience of leading multi-disciplinary teams (including external organisations) in delivering high-quality policy, strategic thinking and development of analytical frameworks.
- Ability to think strategically and understand key strategic issues; to ensure deliverables meet strategic objectives and recommendations, taking action to make changes that make a positive difference.
- Experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships, as well as managing consultancy input and advice.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts clearly to a wide range of stakeholders and influence and persuade effectively.
Attributes
9. Building trust
10. Championing and leading change
11. Delivering outcomes
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 at the centre of everything that we do. In our annual People Survey 2024, we outperformed the Civil Service (CS) People Survey benchmarks in all 10 areas.
Almost four in five of our people would recommend Ofwat as a great place to work. Nine in ten say that they are treated with respect and that Ofwat respects individual differences. Nine in ten also say that the work they do is interesting and that they decide how they do their work. That’s great but it’s important to us to build an environment that is not only fair, inclusive and empowering but also collaborative. Here, nine in ten of our people say that their team works together to find ways to improve what we do, and that their manager is open to their ideas.
You will also benefit from:
- Excellent employer pension contributions of nearly 29%.You can find further details about pension schemes under Terms and Conditions in the Candidate Pack.
- 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 2 August 2026
- Sifting: Week commencing3 August and week commencing 10 August 2026
- Interview date(s): Week commencing 24 August 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 to 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 three lead criteria.
** 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 interview will be conducted in our Birmingham City Centre office (Ofwat, Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street, Birmingham. B5 4UA)
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 Director band) may be considered in merit order for a Principal grade post – a band lower than Director. 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 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
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.ukAttachments
Director Wastewater Candidate Pack July 26 Opens in new window (pdf, 712kB)Salary range
- £91,257 - £100,000 per year