Reference number
345870
Salary
£36,918 – £44,000
Please read the attached Candidate Pack for more details on salary and pensions.
Job grade
Other
Band 3 Senior Associate
Contract type
Permanent
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
This is a permanent appointment. However, we will also accept loans and secondments of up to two years.
Business area
RAPID (Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) – Water Resources Team
Type of role
Analytical
Engineering
Environment and Sustainability
Operational Delivery
Project Delivery
Science
Other
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Location
Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working
About the job
Job summary
We’re Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority —a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.
As the economic regulator of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, our role is to enable, incentivise and hold companies to account for providing the very best for customers, communities and the environment now and in the future. We also oversee the markets in the water sector to ensure they’re working for customers.
We are at the source of everyday life. Our work is high-profile and fast-moving, within a dynamic and agile environment. The work that you’ll be involved in every day will help us to deliver our strategy, to make us the regulator we want to be and help the sector to deliver for customers and society.
You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, our values and our Framework for Success in the attached Candidate Pack.
Job description
We’re looking for a Water Resources Modeler to join our Water Resources team, part of our RAPID (Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) and Environmental Planning (EP) directorate. You will support water resources modelling work to assess the drought resilience benefits of potential water supply options. You will help steer our modelling strategy and support the ongoing development of national water resources modelling capabilities for future work, including identifying strategic water needs for England. As a part of RAPID, you will also have a role in engaging with the strategic resource option leads to oversee development and risks as they progress through the RAPID gated programme. You will also coordinate engagement with stakeholders including other regulators, organisations and regional water resource groups.
You will be proactive and take ownership of your work areas by engaging within Ofwat, as well as with environmental regulators and other 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 Team, proactively sharing ideas and knowledge. Equally we will be supporting you and your development through coaching and mentoring.
Key deliverables
In this role you will be expected to:
- Complete data processing, run specialised programs, draw together findings and present these to others.
- Analyse water company data, from sources such as Water Resource Management Plans, and provide commentary on whether the options they are proposing are able to maintain supply demand balances in the face of future water resource challenges.
- Problem solve and use scientific reasoning to help make decisions.
- Understand and communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including the Environment Agency (EA), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Water Companies, and any other relevant bodies.
- Support the RAPID and EP directorate and the Water Resources team, as well as other directorates across Ofwat with actions arising from RAPID’s work.
- Work with other regulators to steer our shared modelling strategy.
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: Experience of using modelling techniques, preferably in a water resource context, to quantitatively assess the performance of different options, identify benefits and help shape strategic thinking.
- Degree level qualification in a relevant discipline such as environmental, engineering, or other disciplines with significant mathematical content.
- Applied knowledge of water resource modelling platforms such as Pywr, Aquator, Wathnet or Miser, and / or programming language such as Python or Visual Basic.
- Highly numerate with strong analytical, including experience of identifying, analysing, and accurately interpreting a range of data and insights to inform evidence-based decisions and solutions for complex problems.
- Experience of working collaboratively 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
- Promotes collaboration
- Adaptable thinker
Attributes as per Ofwat’s Framework for Success for Senior Associate Band. You can read more about our attributes here.
Qualifications
Degree level qualification in a relevant discipline such as environmental, engineering, or other disciplines with significant mathematical content.
Benefits
Why You Should Join Us:
We are forward-thinking, creative, innovative and ambitious. We constantly push the boundaries and embrace new ways of working. We know our people do their best work when given freedom over where, when, and how they work. Which is why we trust them to do exactly that.
With us, your work matters, your voice is heard, and your impact is felt. Ours is a culture of trust, flexibility, autonomy, collaboration, and innovation. We all want positive change for water customers, the environment, and the future of water.
You will also benefit from:
- Excellent employer pension contributions, for this role ranging from £9,967 to £11,880.
- 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
Things you need to know
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 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 07 April 2024
- Sifting: week commencing 08 April 2024
- Interview date(s): week commencing 15 April 2024
Assessment process
Sift Stage
At sift stage we assess your application against key essential skills, experience, and knowledge, listed in the professional requirements section above.
In your application, please state clearly how your skills, experience, and knowledge meet the essential criteria.
In the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the following lead criterion:
- Experience of using modelling techniques, preferably in a water resource context, to quantitatively assess the performance of different options, identify benefits and help shape strategic thinking.
In your personal statement, please tell us how your skills and experience meet the lead criterion, with examples if appropriate.
You may find the STAR method useful in structuring your personal statement.
Interview Stage
We will assess your Experience, Skills and Knowledge as well as Attributes (set out in the professional requirements section) at Interview Stage.
You can read more about Attributes in Ofwat’s Framework for Success.
As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invitation to interview.
Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software such as Microsoft Teams.
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.
Please read the attached Candidate Pack for details on terms and conditions.
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
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.
Apply and further information
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
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 Ruth Noake, Head of Talent & OD, Corporate Enablers (People), Ofwat, Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UA 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.
