Join Ofwat’s Price Review directorate as an ODIs and cost change Senior Associate
We have 1 Fixed Term contract until the end of December 2027 available
*Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working*
About Us
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. We also oversee the markets in the water sector to ensure they’re working for customers. 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 – one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.
The Role
The ODIs and cost change senior associate will make an important and valuable contribution to enable us to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments.
This is a multi-faceted role. The postholder will be expected to make a significant contribution in the areas of project management, policy, planning and co-ordination across both the in-period ODIs and cost change projects.
Key deliverables
In this role you will be expected to:
- assisting with project planning and preparation as well as monitoring and tracking project delivery;
- contributing to the drafting of Information Notices and other publications;
- assisting with the management and co-ordination of document production for draft and final determinations, ensuring these are delivered to a high standard and on time;
- assessing evidence provided by companies to support ODI payments or cost change claims and forming a view on whether or not we should allow these payments;
- leading on policy development for specific topics. This will include:
- identifying policy issues:
- using qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess different types of evidence;
- developing policy options and recommendations, supported by appropriate evidence and reasoning;
- presenting findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders to get the decisions needed for the project; and
- drafting the reasoning for our decisions for internal and external published documents.
- assisting with the management and co-ordination of papers for project and Ofwat governance meetings;
- building strong stakeholder relationships both internally and externally to ensure that our decisions are joined up and that there has been appropriate stakeholder engagement.
About You
Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:
- Lead criterion: Experience of assisting with project management responsibilities including planning and co-ordination of projects and production of assessment criteria and templates.
- Graduate qualification and/or equivalent professional experience relevant to the role discipline.
- Proven ability to identify issues and to use qualitative and quantitative analysis to assess evidence and develop well supported policy options and recommendations.
- Proven ability to work to tight timescales in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver projects in a complex stakeholder environment while managing competing priorities.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, demonstrated by influencing and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders and facilitating linkages between projects and work streams.
Why You Should Join Us:
- People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do – we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you’ll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
- Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.
- Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham offices.
- 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.
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
- Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
- Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.
Follow the link to Apply for full details about the role, please ensure you have submitted your application in full before the below deadline.
Closing date: 23.55 on 17 May 2026
