Regulatory Lawyer

South East Water; Snodland; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stakeholder pension

Holiday entitlement

Flexible leave

Volunteer days

Cycle to work

Health plan

Life insurance

Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a commercially-minded Regulatory Lawyer to shape compliance and strategy within the water industry. You will report to the Head of Strategy and Economic Regulation and act as a trusted adviser on regulatory risk and governance.

You will work with multiple functions to draft charging documents, advise on tariffs, and contribute to annual regulatory reporting. The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented leader capable of engaging with senior executives and regulators.

Qualifications

• A relevant law degree or equivalent legal qualification or equivalent demonstrable level of experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks with competing priorities.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Proven leadership abilities and the ability to work effectively with senior executives and Board members.
• Integrity, professionalism, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement in governance practices.
• The ability to work in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of providing legal advice and identifying and mitigating legal, regulatory and compliance risks in a regulated environment in the water sector (or another regulated industry).

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to business functions in relation to regulatory obligations and policy, including compliance with water industry legislation, licence conditions, competition law, wholesale market codes, charging rules, regulatory reporting and management of regulatory and compliance risks.
• Draft the company’s charging documents and advise on tariff development to reflect regulatory requirements.
• Advise on compliance with reporting requirements and contribute to annual regulatory narrative reporting.
• Draft or provide advice on regulated contracts and standard terms under the wholesale retail code.
• Develop detailed legal knowledge of the regulatory framework and keep colleagues informed of developments.
• Monitor compliance processes and identify needs for regulatory support, considering regulator priorities.
• Contribute to formulation of the company’s position in responses to regulator consultations and proposals.
• Advise on change programmes relating to regulatory compliance.
• Advise on regulatory enforcement actions and implementation of commitments with regulators.

Skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Leadership

Integrity

Proactive mindset

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder relations

Education

Law degree or equivalent qualification

Job description

Summary

Are you a sharp, commercially-minded Regulatory Lawyer looking to shape compliance and strategy within a vital infrastructure sector? Do you have the legal expertise and proactive mindset needed to navigate complex water industry frameworks, from Ofwat guidance to wholesale market rules? If so, this high-impact role places you at the very heart of our business. Reporting directly to the Head of Strategy and Economic Regulation, you will serve as a trusted advisor across key functions-protecting the business from regulatory risk while championing a strong culture of compliance.

Main responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and support to business functions in relation to regulatory obligations and policy, including (i) compliance with water industry legislation, licence conditions, competition law, wholesale market codes, charging rules, (ii) regulatory reporting and (iii) the management of regulatory and compliance risks.
• Working with the Regulation Team and the Developer Services Team, draft the company’s charging documents (indicative charges, wholesale tariff document, wholesale charges document, new connection charging arrangements, infrastructure charges and miscellaneous services charges scheme, household charges scheme, board assurance statements) in accordance with charging rules and keep them up to date to reflect changes in regulatory requirements and advise on the development of new tariffs.
• Working closely with the Company Secretary and the Finance Team, advise on compliance with reporting requirements and contribute to the drafting of annual regulatory narrative reporting (APR including relevant board statements).
• Draft or provide advice on regulated contracts (e.g. bulk supplies, self-lay agreements), standard terms and conditions (e.g. under the wholesale retail code) and related documents.
• Develop detailed legal knowledge of and expertise in the regulatory framework in which the company operates and work proactively with colleagues to keep them informed of developments and promote awareness of and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Monitor the effectiveness of the company’s processes for compliance with regulatory obligations and regulatory reporting requirements and identify the needs for regulatory support within the business, having regard to developments in regulatory policy and the priorities of Ofwat, other regulators or government. Carry out reviews of processes for compliance with regulatory obligations and regulatory reporting requirements and provide advice on improvements.
• Contribute to the formulation of the company’s position in response to consultations or proposals from regulators or government for changes to the company’s regulatory framework (including amendments to licence conditions, or new rules or guidance).
• Advise on and contribute to change programmes relating to regulatory compliance where required by reforms of the water sector.
• Advise on and contribute to the company’s response to any regulatory enforcement actions and the implementation and compliance with commitments agreed with regulators.

You’ll need

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• A relevant law degree or equivalent legal qualification or equivalent demonstrable level of experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks with competing priorities.
• Strong organisational and project management skills.
• Proven leadership abilities and the ability to work effectively with senior executives and Board members.
• Integrity, professionalism, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement in governance practices.
• The ability to work in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience of providing legal advice and identifying and mitigating legal, regulatory and compliance risks in a regulated environment in the water sector (or another regulated industry).

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That's why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

• It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water.
• Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package

From £70,000 p.a. dependent on experience