Wales Environmental Policy Lead

Job title: Wales Environmental Policy Lead

Position type: Permanent

Job reference: 434510

No. Vacancies: 1

Location: Cardiff (CF10 1EP), Birmingham (B5 4UA), or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working

Salary: £57,783 - £72,000

Closing date: 23.55pm Sunday 09 November 2025

Join Ofwat's RAPID & Environmental Planning Directorate as a Wales Environmental Policy Lead

Office Location: Cardiff (CF10 1EP), Birmingham (B5 4UA), or London (E14 4HD) based 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. Following the Independent Water Commission's final report, the UK government has set out a bold new direction - one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.

We are working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. We're also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions 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

The Wales Environmental Policy Lead role has an important and valuable contribution to enable us to deliver on our goals and regulatory commitments.

You will join Ofwat's Environment team which focuses on delivering the environmental policy objectives of our strategy, and engaging and collaborating with key environmental stakeholders. We cover a range of areas such as climate change, biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and water quality. We work across the organisation and across the sector to deliver improvements for the environment.

The team has been working on Welsh policy since our formation, but we are now keen to grow our capability in this area and ensure we are meeting the needs of the increasing and changing government commitments. In this role, you will support our overall approach to Welsh environmental policy, with a focus on ensuring the organisation understands both the environmental policy context and the political landscape.

This role will be pivotal in ensuring Ofwat is ready to respond to the outcomes of the Independent Water Commission review and the review of the regulatory landscape. Consequently, you will ensure our regulatory approach evolves to support resilient infrastructure, climate adaptation, and nature recovery, while also delivering economic growth and public trust.

You will be comfortable representing Ofwat and communicating Ofwat policy to environmental stakeholders, including government officials and water companies. You will provide advice and make recommendations, ensuring Ofwat understands and can incorporate Welsh environmental policy into its work, proactively sharing skills and knowledge.

You will have an excellent understanding of Welsh environmental issues and experience of the water sector. Ideally, you will also have a good professional network within the Welsh environmental policy sector. You will be comfortable working independently and at pace in an agile environment. You will continue to hone your judgement and be expected to exercise it responsibly in line with our strategy and ways of working. In turn, you will have opportunities to develop and consolidate your skill set.

About You

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

1. Extensive experience working in Welsh environmental policy, ideally working within or alongside a regulator or government department.
2. Proven successful leadership in Welsh environmental policy, analysis and delivery, with the ability to translate technical evidence into clear, practical policy or regulatory recommendations.
3. A sound understanding of Welsh water industry regulation, including relevant legislation, frameworks, and key institutions (e.g. Ofwat, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government), with the ability to navigate regulatory processes to influence outcomes.
4. Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
5. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to synthesise complex technical, scientific, and economic information for diverse audiences.
6. Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to influence high-level 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 nearly 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 09 November 2025