Senior Associate Strategic Communications Adviser

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 Strategic Communications Adviser to join our Strategic Communications Team within Office of the Chief Executive 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 Strategic Communications Senior Adviser role sits in the Strategic Communications team, part of the Communications and Engagement directorate.

Ofwat's Communications and Engagement team sits within the Office of the Chief Executive Directorate and plays a crucial part in the delivery of Ofwat's strategy, working across the business to encourage effective engagement and communication amongst our own people and with external audiences.

It is a very collaborative team which takes an integrated approach to communications in a fast-changing sector.

The team has approximately 25 members and is responsible for:

• Managing Ofwat's external reputation
• Our external engagement with a range of stakeholders
• Internal engagement
• Ownership of our communications channels
• Horizon scanning and strategic communications planning

At a time when Ofwat as an organisation is heading towards a period of great change, we are seeking a Strategic Communications Adviser to play a key role in setting the direction of our communication activity.

With a keen eye for finding ways to deliver impactful and effective communications to a diverse range of audiences, you will drive forward our story on how, as the economic water regulator, we are bringing about positive change for customers, communities and the environment and helping to shape the future of the water sector.

The Strategic Communications team is responsible for developing Ofwat's communications strategy and annual communications plan, ensuring that all activity is appropriately planned and evaluated. The team also leads on the development and delivery of strategic communications plans for key projects. You will act as a champion for strategic thinking both within the communications team and across the whole organisation, by actively demonstrating the value of strategy, planning, prioritisation and co-ordination.

You’ll work across a number of projects and areas, developing strong and collaborative working relationships with colleagues across Ofwat. You will develop a thorough understanding of key areas of the organisation's business, horizon scanning for opportunities and risk, then developing plans which communicate our work to a range of stakeholders, using audience-based insight. Co-ordinating communications colleagues across a range of disciplines – media, stakeholder and internal engagement, digital and design – you will draw on the strengths and capabilities of the whole team to produce top-quality work.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Work with colleagues from around Ofwat, understanding the scope and objectives of their work and providing communications advice.
• Develop and deliver communications strategies and plans based on audience insight which have clear objectives, targeted and effective tactics and specific measurable outcomes.
• Devise creative approaches so that our work has impact.
• Manage projects so that everyone involved understands the timeline and are clear on how and when they contribute.
• Ensure that work is reviewed and signed off at an appropriate level and in a timely fashion.
• Evaluate the outcome of all significant projects, identifying lessons learned.
• Lead on horizon scanning for your portfolio, including quarterly priorities and contribute to maintaining the forward planning communications grid.
• Work with communication and engagement colleagues in the other water regulators, Defra and Welsh government to chart a course through water reform developments and onto the new independent regulators for England and Wales.

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 in developing and delivering communications plans which support delivery of corporate objectives.
2. Deep experience in at least one core communications area – for example media relations, digital or stakeholder engagement.
3. Creative thinking and approach to problem solving and delivery in different contexts.
4. Strong communication skills – verbal, written and presentation skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely for a range of different channels and media.
5. Knowledge of the range of communications disciplines and how they can be deployed.
6. Able to set measurable objectives for communications activity and develop effective plans for assessing outcomes.

Attributes

7. Builds trust
8. Promotes collaboration
9. Champion and leader of change
10. Delivers 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 central to everything we do. Our 2025 People Survey highlights several key strengths. Nine in ten coll