Head of Economic Regulation

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK water company is seeking a Head of Economic Regulation in Reading. This role requires deep expertise in water sector regulation and strategic insight. You will lead the development of regulatory plans, influence high-level decisions, and collaborate across teams to ensure compliance and resilience. The position offers a salary between £90,000 - £120,000, competitive benefits, and a chance to make a meaningful impact on water regulation.

Benefits

Private Health Insurance

26 days annual leave

Generous Pension Scheme

Performance-related pay

Wellbeing benefits

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in UK water sector regulation, especially price reviews and interim determinations.
• Highly numerate, ideally with a mathematics, economics or science based degree.
• Proven ability to deliver strategic insights using both operational and financial data.
• Experience influencing at Board level and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of price review business plan aligned with regulatory requirements.
• Provide expert analysis and recommendations on Ofwat’s determinations.
• Collaborate across teams to translate complex requirements into deliverables.
• Assess and mitigate price control risks.
• Develop agile planning frameworks for executive decision-making.
• Drive closure of evidence gaps for CMA referral readiness.
• Manage ad-hoc regulatory submissions and engage with regulators.

Skills

UK water sector regulation expertise

Numeracy

Strategic insights delivery

Stakeholder influencing

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Education

Degree in mathematics, economics, or science

Job description

Job title Head of Economic Regulation Ref 43141 Division Strategy & External Affairs Location Reading - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time or part-time Salary Offering between £90,000 - £120,000 per annum depending on experience Job grade C Closing date 30/11/2025

Shape the Future of Water Regulation

A fantastic opportunity to join a great team at a critical time for the water industry.
This is a time of change and opportunity—where your expertise can make a real difference for customers and the environment. Roles like this do not come up very often, and this one offers the chance to influence the future of water regulation in a meaningful and lasting way.

This is a high-impact position that bridges regulatory strategy, price review negotiations, and AMP delivery execution. You’ll be instrumental in shaping our business plan, guiding our response to Ofwat’s Draft and Final Determinations, and advising our Executive and Board on financial and strategic implications. You’ll also play a key role in preparing for potential CMA referrals.

What You’ll Be Doing as Head of Economic Regulation

• Lead the development of our price review business plan, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements around costs, efficiency, outcomes, and incentives.
• Provide expert analysis and recommendations on Ofwat’s determinations, influencing decisions at the highest levels.
• Collaborate across finance, asset operations, and regulatory teams to translate complex requirements into robust deliverables.
• Assess and mitigate price control risks, ensuring Thames Water’s financial resilience.
• Develop agile planning frameworks to support executive and investor decision-making.
• Drive closure of evidence gaps to strengthen our position for CMA referral readiness.
• Manage ad-hoc regulatory submissions and engage with regulators to shape future frameworks.

What You should bring to the role

• Deep expertise in UK water sector regulation, especially price reviews and interim determinations.
• Highly numerate, ideally with a mathematics, economics or science based degree (or equivalent), though this is not essential.
• Proven ability to deliver strategic insights using both operational and financial data.
• Experience influencing at Board level and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

Whats in it for you?

• A strategic leadership role with visibility across the business.
• The opportunity to shape regulatory outcomes that impact millions.
• A collaborative, forward-thinking environment where your expertise drives real change.
• Competitive salary - £90,000 - £120,000 depending on your experience.
• Private Health Insurance.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (plus bank holidays)
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Performance-related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

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.

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.