The water sector in England and Wales stands at the threshold of major reform, with a new Clean Water Bill expected this year and significant associated policy and regulatory change. Together, this will lead to a transformation in how the sector plans and invests for the long term and how it works to deliver improved service, resilience and environmental outcomes.  If you want to influence how future water policy and regulation evolves, help define what ‘good’ looks like and achieve change that will stand for years to come, then take a look at this exciting and highly rewarding opportunity.

You will own and deliver discrete/standalone regulatory policy submissions and support effective delivery and governance around business-wide regulatory policy representations. You will engage internal stakeholders across the business to marshal and distil policy evidence and arguments, securing agreement from senior internal stakeholders up to and including the Executive Committee and Board.  The volume of regulatory change means this is a fast-moving area. Adept at juggling multiple projects, you will use agile systems and processes to maintain grip and alignment across a wide-ranging regulatory policy agenda. Using your external networks, you will identify opportunities to promote change through other stakeholders.

What you will be doing as Regulatory Policy Lead

Horizon scanning: Make sense of external regulatory policy intelligence to identify regulatory opportunities and risks, ensuring that the implications of these are communicated effectively and are acted on, including how they are reflected in our corporate risk management.  

Regulatory policy: Develop and maintain regulatory positions on existing and new requirements, leveraging your understanding of operational and infrastructure realities to create evidence-led feedback on new policy proposals, providing insight into the business on the impact and implications. 

Policy consultation responses: Lead policy consultation responses drawing on expertise from inside Thames Water and beyond. Support content delivery on major cross-cutting responses.

Policy Portfolio Management: Maintain and develop a forward ‘grid’ of policy consultations, and track these with appropriate KPIs for delivery and external impact.

What you should bring to the role?

  • Previous experience in utility/infrastructure regulation, obtained in the water industry (company, regulator or advisor) or comparable infrastructure.
  • Previous experience in policy development.
  • Able to convey complex subject matter (including data) simply, including effective advocacy orally and in writing.
  • Highly organised, adept in managing a portfolio of initiatives, with the ability to draw on cross-functional subject matter experts as appropriate to underpin delivery.
  • A track record of building and maintaining effective internal and external relationships to deliver change.
  • Credibility and impact with external senior stakeholders.

What's in it for you?

This year we continued to make good progress in delivering the biggest upgrade to our infrastructure in 150 years. We all know the turnaround of our business will take time, but we are now starting to see improvements in our performance. Join Thames Water at a pivotal moment in our turnaround, and in the reform of the regulatory framework in which we operate. You’ll have the opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping our future while building your own career as part of our strategic journey.

  • Competitive salary £65,000 - £75,000 per annum, depending on experience
  • Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (Plus bank holidays) 
  • Car Allowance - £5,800
  • Annual Bonus 
  • Private Medical Health Care
  • Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution
  • Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year
  • Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing

Find out more about our benefits and perks (Please note different T&Cs apply if on secondment)

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job, and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

We’re committed to being a great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and want to ensure you feel supported throughout the recruitment process. If you need any adjustments, whether that’s extra time, accessible formats, or anything else, just let us know. We’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.