Senior Associate Outcomes

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 Senior Associate – Outcomes to join our Outcomes 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

We are looking for a Senior Associate (SA) to join the Outcomes team in the Price Review (PR) Directorate.

The Outcomes team plays a central role in designing and shaping the next price review, including rationalising and streamlining our incentive framework in line with the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission’s review. This role will have a significant impact in securing the best outcomes for water customers in the Price Review 2029 (PR29) period of 2030-2035.

This key role will involve working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including Defra, other regulators, and water companies, to design, develop, and implement a robust framework for PR29, and to consider the impacts on customers and the environment at each step of the development of the incentive framework.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Deliver high-quality analysis, policy papers and reporting to support internal decision-making and external publications;
• Present clear, evidence-based policy recommendations on PCs to senior leadership;
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships, working closely with internal and external stakeholders to refine PC methodologies, and applying technical expertise to ensure they are robust, consistent, and fit for purpose; and
• Work as part of the price review team to help build collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

There may also be opportunities for you to task manage others in the team, manage consultant resource and to support development as a leader.

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: Experience of developing innovative and evidence-based policy options, and providing robust assessment of these, including clear articulation of benefits, trade-offs and risks.
2. Undergraduate degree for which you can show that the skills developed are relevant to the role and/or equivalent policy experience.
3. Strong organisational skills, with the experience of effectively managing and prioritising multiple tasks.
4. Clear written communication skills.
5. Ability to analyse and synthesise complex information.
6. Ability to communicate effectively to a range of internal and external audiences, through meetings and presentations, and an ability to convey complex issues clearly and concisely.
7. Understanding of the impact of incentives on company behaviour.

Attributes

8. Builds trust
9. Delivers outcomes
10. Promotes collaboration
11. Adaptable thinker

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.