Regulatory Enforcement Specialist

Pertemps; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading water company as a Regulatory Enforcement Specialist, where you will play a crucial role in environmental compliance, working closely with legal teams and regulators. This hybrid position offers competitive salary and benefits, focusing on sustainability and community impact.

Benefits

26 days holiday, increasing to 30

Generous pension scheme

Health MOTs

Physiotherapy

Counselling

Cycle to Work

Life assurance

Qualifications

• Ability to travel for training and team activities.
• Experience with environmental and water industry legislation.

Responsibilities

• Review draft correspondence for criminal investigations.
• Manage responses to regulators and ensure accuracy.
• Prepare statutory information requests.

Skills

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Data interpretation

Education

Environmental Science degree

Legal degree

Investigative degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an individual to contribute to Thames Water’s mitigation of enforcement risk related to water discharge non-compliance against environmental permits and pollution incidents.

You will be part of a team responding to the Environment Agency (EA) across various communication channels. This high-profile role involves collaboration with our legal team at Eversheds Sutherland and the Environment Agency, offering exposure across all levels of the business and the chance to contribute to the wider environmental function.

What you’ll be doing as a Regulatory Enforcement Specialist

You will critically review draft correspondence prepared by Advisors to the EA as part of criminal investigations into pollution and non-compliance incidents. You will support and coach Advisors, providing leadership and acting as the Manager’s delegate.

• Manage and contribute to responses to regulators, ensuring accuracy and demonstrating our commitment as environmental guardians by reviewing draft responses.
• Ensure the author understands the circumstances of the incident, identifies and evidences appropriate mitigating or preventive actions, and interprets scientific data regarding environmental impact.
• Prepare statutory and formal information requests, such as Regulation 61 and Section 108.
• Assist in preparing senior leadership and legal representatives for interviews under caution, including drafting statements and providing further information.
• Contribute to mitigation and defense evidence preparation during prosecutions by interrogating company systems and records.

Location & Working Pattern

Hybrid working with an average of two days per week at Clearwater Court, Reading. Flexible working options are available and can be discussed during the interview.

Other Requirements

Ability to travel across Thames Water’s area for training and team activities.

What you should bring to the role

• An Environmental Science, Legal, Investigative degree, or equivalent qualification.
• Knowledge of Environmental Legislation, the Environment Agency’s schemes, and compliance classification.
• Project management skills, initiative, and effective workload prioritization.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of engaging internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in report writing, data interpretation, and verbal/written communication.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office and SharePoint.
• Experience in coaching and leading colleagues, acting as a delegate.
• Previous experience with environmental and water industry legislation; legal privilege experience is desirable.
• Audit and assurance experience is advantageous.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary: £43,120–£50,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• 26 days holiday, increasing to 30 with service, plus bank holidays.
• Generous pension scheme via AON.
• Benefits supporting health, wellbeing, and financial security, including health MOTs, physiotherapy, counselling, Cycle to Work, vouchers, and life assurance.

Learn more about our benefits and perks.

Who are we?

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, serving over 16 million customers daily. Our mission is to build a better future for all—helping customers, communities, people, and our planet thrive. We seek passionate, skilled individuals committed to making a difference.

Our purpose and values

Explore more about what drives us.

Working at Thames Water

We offer a diverse, rewarding environment where every day presents new opportunities to make a difference. Enjoy fast-tracked career growth, flexible work options, and excellent benefits.

If you’re passionate about improving lives and protecting water resources, join us to help build a sustainable future. We support diversity and inclusion and are committed to removing barriers to success. We also offer opportunities to support our customers directly, including frontline ambassador roles with full training.

Note: Due to high application volumes, this advert may close early. We encourage early applications to avoid missing out.