Head of Economic Regulation

Dwr Cymru Cyf; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days annual leave (pro rata)

Pension contributions

Employee benefits package

Training and progression opportunities

Discounts and wellness programs

Job summary

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is recruiting a senior leader to head its Economic Regulation function. You will provide strategic oversight of price control development, regulatory policy, and engagement with regulators, governments and stakeholders.

The role focuses on robust governance, expert economic insight, and cross-functional leadership to deliver customer outcomes and affordability. You will lead regulatory tactics, partner with executive leadership, and coordinate cross‑functional inputs to

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in economics, finance, regulation, or a related discipline.
• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or economist.

Responsibilities

• Lead economic regulation activities aligned with corporate objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Own and lead on price reviews, performance commitments and incentives frameworks.
• Engage with economic regulators and government on regulatory strategy and submissions.
• Develop regulatory tactics and responses to determinations and policy developments.
• Oversee analysis and evidence supporting submissions and negotiations.
• Provide expert advice to Executive and Board on regulatory issues, risks and trade-offs.
• Coordinate inputs across Finance, Assets, Operations and Strategy for coherent submissions.
• Lead responses to policy consultations and industry discussions.
• Represent Welsh Water externally at forums and stakeholder events.

Skills

Regulatory strategy

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Regulatory modelling

Leadership

Education

Degree in economics/finance/regulation

Professional qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA or economist)

Job description

Reporting to the Regulation Director, the Head of Economic Regulation is responsible for leading Dŵr Cymru's economic regulation activities. The role provides strategic oversight of price control development, economic regulatory policy, and engagement with economic regulators, governments and other stakeholders. You will ensure that regulatory strategies, submissions and negotiations protect customer interests, support long-term affordability and resilience, and enable the delivery of Dŵr Cymru's strategic objectives. As a senior leader within Finance, Regulation & Business Performance, you will provide expert economic insight, lead regulatory tactics lead specialist teams and support Executive and Board decision-making in line with the Target Operating Model., 1. Lead economic regulation activities for the company, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, customer outcomes and regulatory expectations. 2. Own and lead on outcomes aspects of price reviews, including performance commitments, price control deliverables and other incentives frameworks. 3. Provide strategic leadership for engagement with economic regulators and government. 4. Lead the development of regulatory tactics and responses to draft and final determinations. 5. Oversee regulatory analysis and evidence supporting regulatory submissions and negotiations. 6. Provide expert advice to Executive and Board on economic regulatory issues, trade-offs and risks. 7. Coordinate economic regulatory inputs across Finance, Assets, Operations and Strategy to ensure coherent submissions. 8. Lead responses to policy consultations and developments impacting economic regulation. Representing the organisation externally, contributing to industry forums, consultations and policy discussions. 9. Ensure robust governance, assurance and quality control of economic regulatory outputs. 10. Represent Welsh Water externally at industry forums, regulatory working groups and stakeholder events, contributing to sector-wide policy development and best practice.

Degree or equivalent professional qualification in economics, finance, regulation, or a related discipline.

Professional Qualification

• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or economist

Experience

• Extensive senior-level experience in economic regulation within a regulated utility or similar complex regulatory environment.
• Proven experience leading regulatory submissions, price controls and regulatory negotiations with particular emphasis on outcomes.
• Current experience managing price review processes, including business plan development, determinations and appeals decisions.
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with economic regulators and representing organisational positions at senior level.
• Proven track record of commissioning and managing external assurance providers on price control submissions including business plan tables.
• Experience leading specialist regulatory or economic teams and coordinating complex cross-business inputs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead high-performing teams and deliver complex cross-functional programmes.

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep understanding of economic regulation, price controls and regulatory frameworks in the water sector or comparable industries.
• Strong knowledge of outcomes frameworks, performance incentives, cost assessment and risk allocation.
• Exceptionally strong analytical, critical thinking and modelling capability, with the ability to provide clear insight and challenge.
• Ability to interpret regulatory policy and translate it into clear strategies and delivery actions.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, including at Executive and Board level.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills with the ability to motivate others.
• High level of attention to detail and commitment to quality, assurance and governance.

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water keep 3 million people healthy each day with safe, reliable water, and take away wastewater to clean, before returning it safely to our beautiful rivers and seas.

To be able to deliver high quality, essential services which help to protect the health of our customers, colleagues and our environment, we need the right people to deliver on our vision. This is achieved by living our core values and demonstrating the core behaviours that underpin them. The security of our people, assets and information is key to us, so we are looking for people who understand and comply with the company's required security objectives. We know that the most successful teams are the most diverse teams. Equality, diversity and inclusion provide the very foundation to our culture at Welsh Water. We want every individual to feel confident, proud and able to bring their whole selves to work. To ensure an improved representation in our workforce, applications are particularly welcome from minority groups including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, Females, LGBT+, Non-binary and people with disabilities. Together we continue to build a workplace that not only celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues but also represents each customer we serve. In essence, ours is a company based on trust, openness, respect, commitment and honesty. A company that our colleagues are proud to work for.

Dŵr Cymru Cyf, a limited company registered in Wales No. 2366777. Registered office: Linea, Fortran Road, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT

As well as a market competitive salary, 34 days annual leave (pro rata, including public holidays), we offer a range of employee benefits and rewards including:

• Variable pay schemes (your salary band will remain the same, but performance depending, you could receive an incremental within-band increase and a yearly incentive)
• Option to buy additional annual leave up to 5 days per year
• Enhanced employer pension contributions - Up to 11% employer contributions
• Free Mortgage Brokering Services
• Enhanced family friendly policies
• Progression opportunities, including the ability to apply for funded training and coaching and mentoring programmes
• Gym and fitness discounts as well as high street shopping
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discount off all Welsh Water visitor attraction centres and gift shops
• Car-leasing scheme and free on-site parking at all sites
• Health CashBack scheme and access to an online GP service
• An employee assistance programme for employees and their immediate family

Many more can be found on our website. Due to the nature of the industry, we require satisfactory references, post offer medical clearance, and a criminal records Basic Disclosure check on all new employees joining the business. For some roles there may be additional checks and security clearance required, and this offer is subject to all checks being satisfied. You will receive further information on how to complete these checks via email once you have accepted this offer.