Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance

Pennon Group; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attractive Salary & Benefits Package

Company car or Car allowance

Annual Bonus Scheme

Pension Scheme

Hybrid Working

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Discounts

Annual Leave Allowance

Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme

Career Development Opportunities

Job summary

Pennon Group is hiring a Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance to lead major regulatory initiatives across its water businesses from Exeter or Bristol. The role focuses on delivering regulatory submissions, governance and assurance, with a hybrid working pattern requiring in-office presence.

You will collaborate with executive leaders across regulation, finance, operations and asset management to shape the future of the company while ensuring robust controls and continuous improvement across

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading large, complex programmes within regulated infrastructure or similar environments.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive delivery across multiple workstreams.
• Strong governance, risk management and assurance expertise.
• Experience managing substantial budgets and external professional services.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Sharp commercial and financial acumen balancing regulatory needs with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead major regulatory programmes, including PR29 and future price reviews.
• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, governance frameworks and milestones.
• Coordinate senior stakeholders to ensure successful delivery across functions.
• Provide clear reporting, assurance and recommendations to Executive/Board levels.
• Identify, manage and mitigate programme risks and dependencies.
• Ensure submissions are evidence-based, compliant and audit-ready.
• Manage budgets and external advisory spend for effective financial control.
• Lead engagement with auditors and assurance advisers.
• Build and develop a high-performing Regulatory Programmes & Assurance team.
• Drive long-term regulatory readiness across cycles.

Skills

Regulatory programmes

Stakeholder management

Governance

Budget management

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Job description

Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose

At Pennon Group, we’re proud to serve communities while protecting the environment. Together with our subsidiaries, South West Water, Bristol Water, Bournemouth Water, SES Water, Pennon Water Services and Pennon Power, we’re leading the way in water and renewables.

We’re proud to be recognised as a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we’re working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.

Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.

Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.

Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance

Location: Exeter or Bristol
Working Pattern: Hybrid (minimum 3 days per week in the office)

Are you an exceptional programme leader who can bring structure, clarity and momentum to large-scale, business-critical initiatives?

We are looking for a strategic and commercially minded Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance to lead complex regulatory programmes across water businesses. This is a high-profile leadership role, responsible for delivering major regulatory submissions, including PR29, while ensuring robust governance, assurance and programme controls are in place across the organisation.

Working closely with Executive leaders and senior stakeholders across regulation, finance, operations, asset management, customer and digital functions, you will play a pivotal role in helping shape the future of our business and the services we provide to customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead major regulatory programmes, including PR29, future price reviews and strategic regulatory submissions.

• Develop and maintain integrated programme plans, governance frameworks, milestones and delivery schedules.

• Coordinate senior stakeholders across multiple business functions to ensure successful programme delivery.

• Provide clear reporting, assurance and recommendations to Executive and Board-level stakeholders.

• Identify, manage and mitigate programme risks, dependencies and delivery challenges.

• Ensure regulatory submissions are evidence-based, compliant and capable of withstanding external scrutiny.

• Manage programme budgets, forecasts and external advisory spend to ensure effective financial control.

• Lead engagement with auditors, assurance providers and specialist advisers.

• Build and develop a high-performing Regulatory Programmes & Assurance team.

• Drive long-term regulatory readiness and continuous improvement across future regulatory cycles.

What We're Looking For

• Significant experience leading large, complex programmes within a regulated, infrastructure or similarly complex environment.

• Proven ability to influence and challenge senior stakeholders while driving delivery across multiple workstreams.

• Strong programme governance, risk management and assurance expertise.

• Experience managing substantial budgets and external professional services.

• Exceptional communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to balance regulatory requirements, resources and business objectives.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to lead programmes that will help shape the future of the water industry. You will work closely with Executive leadership, influence strategic decision-making and play a key role in delivering outcomes that matter to customers, communities and the environment.

If you are an experienced programme leader looking for a high-impact role where you can drive meaningful change and influence business-critical outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

Our Benefits

We believe in rewarding our people for their hard work and dedication. As our
Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance you’ll enjoy:

What we offer

• Attractive Salary & Benefits Package

• Company car or Car allowance

• Annual Bonus Scheme – Recognising company performance

• Pension Scheme – Helping you plan for your future

• Hybrid Working – A blend of office and home working, supporting flexibility while maintaining collaboration with your team

• Employee Assistance Programme – Supporting your wellbeing

• Employee Discounts – Access to discounts on a range of products and services

• Annual Leave Allowance – Giving you time to rest and recharge

• Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme – Flexibility to purchase additional holiday or sell unused leave to suit your lifestyle

• Career Development Opportunities – Supporting your ongoing growth and development

Closing Date: 30th November 2026

Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.

Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.

Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:

Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.

Be You - We want you to bring your best everyday. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.

Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.