Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance

Pennon Group Plc; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car or Car allowance

Annual Bonus Scheme

Pension Scheme

Hybrid Working

Employee Discounts

Annual Leave Allowance

Annual Leave Buy & Sell Scheme

Career Development Opportunities

Job summary

Pennon Group Plc is seeking a Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance to lead large-scale regulatory initiatives across its water businesses. The role requires shaping governance, controls and assurance frameworks while delivering major submissions such as PR29, with senior executives and boards as key stakeholders.

Hybrid working is offered with a minimum 3 days in the office, and you will build a high-performing team, manage budgets, engage with auditors and drive readiness for future

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering large, complex regulatory programmes.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-workstream delivery.
• Strong governance, risk and assurance expertise with budget oversight.

Responsibilities

• Lead major regulatory programmes, including PR29 and future price reviews.
• Develop integrated programme plans, governance, milestones and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate senior stakeholders to ensure delivery across functions.
• Provide reporting and recommendations to Executive/Board.
• Manage budgets, forecasts and external advisory spend.
• Engage with auditors and assurance providers.
• Build a high-performing Regulatory Programmes & Assurance team.
• Drive regulatory readiness across future cycles.

Skills

Programme leadership

Governance & risk

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Job description

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

What We Offer

Head of Regulatory Programmes & Assurance

you'll enjoy:

• 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

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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.