Principal Supervision Manual and Risk Framework Lead

Job title: Principal Supervision Manual and Risk Framework Lead

Position type: Permanent

Job reference: 435734

Location: Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working

Salary: £59,660 - £70,000

Closing date: Thursday 30th July 2026 at 23:55 

Join Ofwat’s Supervisory Team as a Principal Supervision Manual and Risk Framework Lead

We have three opportunities for Principals to join our Delivery Directorate.

*Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working*

About Us

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

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.

The Role

In this exciting role, you will have the opportunity to:

• contribute to and oversee development of a supervision manual for implementation during the transition period
• further refine the emerging risk framework and embed it into Ofwat's ways of working,
• continue the evolution of the supervision manual and the risk framework as we better integrate our regulatory oversight of each company with the other regulators during transition,
• prepare for adoption of a supervision manual and a risk framework as part of establishment of the new regulator.

About You

Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:

1.        Lead criterion: Experience of designing, implementing and managing regulatory, supervisory or operational frameworks, products or approaches within a complex organisation.

2.        Understanding and/or experience of performance management and/or risk frameworks in a regulatory environment.

3.        Experience and/or understanding of current and potential future approaches to water regulation.

4.        Understanding of supervisory approaches to regulation.

5.        Experience of developing and implementing policy, operational or regulatory frameworks, including securing stakeholder buy-in and navigating governance and decision-making processes.

6.        Proven experience of embedding change across an organisation's operating model.

7.        Experience of evaluating, improving and embedding operational, supervisory or regulatory approaches to deliver effective organisational outcomes.

8.        Experience of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to deliver shared outcomes and influence decision-making. 

Why You Should Join Us

• People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do - we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you'll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
• Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.
• Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham and London offices.
• Excellent employer pension contributions of up to 29%.
• 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.
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
• Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
• Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.

Follow the link to apply for full details about the role. Please ensure you have submitted your application in full before the below deadline.

Closing date: 23.55 on 30 July 2026