Water Reform Legislation Lead

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 Water Reform Legislation Lead to join our Integration Unit within the Government Engagement and Wales 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.

The role will be based in the Office of the Chief of Staff, within the Integration Unit. The Integration Unit was established in May 2026 to provide central coordination of Ofwat's transition to the new integrated water regulator. As a newly created and high-profile function, the unit plays a pivotal role in supporting one of the most significant transformation programmes in Ofwat's history.

The team works across the organisation to ensure that transition activity, legislative reform and the wider water reform programme are strategically aligned, effectively coordinated and delivered in a coherent and well-sequenced way. It provides senior leaders with the insight, coordination and assurance needed to support informed decision-making and successful delivery.

The Water Reform Legislation Lead role has an important and valuable contribution to enable us to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments.

We are looking for a Senior Associate to join Ofwat’s Integration Unit as our Water Reform Legislation Lead. This is a unique opportunity to work at the centre of Ofwat’s contribution to the Clean Water Bill and the wider transition to a new integrated water regulator.

The role will coordinate Ofwat’s input into legislation being led by DEFRA, bringing together expertise from across policy, legal and operational teams so that Ofwat can provide clear, timely and well-evidenced advice. The postholder will work closely with DEFRA’s Bill team, Ofwat senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to track legislative developments, manage risks and dependencies, and support effective engagement at each stage of the Bill process.

This role would suit someone with experience working in collaborative environments where priorities, timescales and direction can evolve. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate strong organisational and coordination skills, an ability to work effectively through ambiguity, and experience influencing stakeholders and securing collaboration across organisational boundaries. As DEFRA owns the Bill and the wider legislative process, the role requires a pragmatic and adaptable approach to delivery.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead the coordination of Ofwat’s input into the Clean Water Bill and further secondary legislation flowing from this, ensuring that contributions from across the organisation are brought together, tested and provided to DEFRA in a timely and coherent way.
• Act as a key link between Ofwat and DEFRA’s Bill team, supporting effective working relationships, clarifying asks and deadlines, and helping Ofwat respond constructively to DEFRA’s requirements.
• Coordinate Ofwat’s policy, legal, and operational expertise so that Ofwat’s advice is well-evidenced, joined up and reflects the breadth of organisational knowledge.
• Maintain a clear overview of legislative activity, milestones, risks and dependencies, ensuring that Ofwat understands what is required, by when, and where senior input or decision-making is needed.
• Prepare clear briefings, updates and products for senior leaders, including summaries of legislative developments, key issues, risks, choices and areas where Ofwat may seek to influence Government’s thinking.
• Work closely with Legal, Government Engagement, policy and Communications colleagues to ensure that Ofwat’s legislative input is aligned with wider stakeholder engagement, communications and organisational priorities.
• Identify and manage risks and issues relating to Ofwat’s contribution to the Bill, including capacity pressures, unclear ownership, competing priorities and dependencies on Government or partner regulators.
• Support the wider work of the Integration Unit and Office of the Chief of Staff, providing flexible support across strategic, corporate and programme priorities as business needs evolve. This includes contributing to the transition to a new regulator and other high-priority activities, recognising that legislative reform is one part of a broader programme of change.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

How to apply

Apply through the Civil Service Jobs website where you’ll be asked to create an account and complete an application form (CV and personal statement). If you’re unable to make an electronic application, please contact recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk and we will support you in completing your application.

Please see the candidate guidance on our website for more detail and tips on how to best make your application and prepare for interview.

Please ensure you have submitted your application in full ahead of the deadline listed below. Unfortunately, we won't be able to consider late applications.

Selection timetable

• Closing date: 23.55 on 13 September 2026
• Sifting: Week commencing 14 September 2026
• Interview date(s): Week commencing 28 September 2026

Assessment process

Sift Stage - Blind Sifting

We operate a blind sifting model to eliminate bias. All candidate identifying information will be removed from applications.

At sift stage we will assess your application (CV and personal statement) against essential criteria 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 listed above. Please ensure you provide enough evidence in your application form to demonstrate how you meet the criteria.

• Please note that in the event of receiving a large number of applications, a pre-sift may take place on just the lead criterion.
• * If a high volume of candidates meet the minimum pass mark at sift stage, we will only progress the highest scoring candidates to interview. Candidates not invited to interview, who have achieved the minimum pass mark, will be placed 'on hold' until the final stage of the assessment process is completed. Should the role/s remain unfilled, candidates placed 'on hold' may be invited to interview in merit order.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Interview Stage - Transparent Interviews and Presentation

At interview stage we will test against essential skills, experience, knowledge and attributes set out above.

Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a selection of attribute-based questions in advance. This has been proven to help neurodiverse candidates and others to perform better at interview and is part of our inclusive culture.

You can read more about attributes and our Framework for success here.

Please note that the interviews will be conducted via video conferencing software (Microsoft Teams).

As part of the interview process, we will require a short presentation. Further details will be provided to candidates upon invitation to interview.

Please ensure anything you present in your interview answers is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own. You may expect follow up questions.

It may be necessary for a second stage interview, which will be communicated to the successful candidates, if required.

If the assessment process identifies more appointable candidates than roles available, a reserve list will be created for 12 months from which further appointments in merit order can be made.

'Near-miss' candidates (candidates who have performed well at interview stage but haven’t scored high enough for the advertised Senior Associate band) may be considered (in merit order) for an Associate grade post – a band lower than Senior Associate. Further details will be provided to candidates as needed.

If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments, please email recruitment@ofwat.gov.uk.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.