Press Officer Associate

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 Press Officer Associate to join our Communications and Engagement 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

This role sits in the Communications and Engagement team, part of the Office of the Chief Executive Directorate. The team has approximately 25 members and is responsible for:

• Building trust and confidence in Ofwat
• Our external engagement with a range of stakeholders
• Internal engagement with Ofwat colleagues
• Ownership of our communications channels
• Generating insight through customer research
• Listening to customers across England and Wales

The Press Office is the guardian of Ofwat’s reputation. We work to both protect of the reputation of the organisation and promotion of its work proactively. We work with organisations across the modern media landscape – national and local newspapers, broadcast, trade and specialist media, and online, digital media outlets.

The Press Office manages the media handling on behalf of the organisation. We work closely with colleagues in other communications teams to deliver on our strategy, including the public affairs, digital, stakeholder and marketing teams.

At a crucial time for the water sector, you will contribute to, and help deliver, our media strategy, building on our overall communications strategy and ensuring that we target media stakeholders effectively, deliver the right messages across to the right audiences, and strengthen our horizon scanning.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Work within the press team and its functions, servicing media questions, bids and briefing from journalists across the media landscape to enhance and protect the reputation of the organisation.
• Work closely with colleagues, including policy officials and senior leadership, to advise on the role communications can play and media handling approaches.
• Work on proactive media handling, including drafting press releases and developing proactive media tactics that will get cut through in a competitive media landscape. You will work with policy teams to agree messaging and maximise media opportunities.
• Advise and ensure that senior leaders are supported by press office, including briefing on relevant news stories and emerging issues as required.
• Build relationships with journalists across print, broadcast and trade and consumer, digital media.
• Complete analysis and evaluation tasks to gather insight and promote best practice within the team and beyond.
• Take part in out of hours media duty, including occasion work at weekends and on bank holidays.
• Work with partner regulators and central government on water-related issues.
• Carry out additional duties and support projects appropriate for the role.

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 Criteria: Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely.
2. Lead Criteria: Interest, knowledge and awareness of the modern media landscape.
3. Experience working with media and the press, including new media outlets.
4. Ability to influence and network with stakeholders internally and externally, including senior management and journalists.
5. Ability to horizon scan and spot upcoming risks and opportunities.
6. Administration and digital skills, and excellent attention to detail.

Attributes

7. Committed Learner
8. Promotes Collaboration
9. 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 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/spe