Regulatory Policy Lead

Thames Water; Reading; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 26-30 days

Annual bonus

Private medical health care

Pension scheme

Medical assessments

Benefits hub

Job summary

Thames Water in Reading is seeking a Regulatory Policy Lead to own and deliver standalone regulatory submissions and shape the way policy changes are understood and implemented across the business.

You will scan external policy developments, develop positions, lead cross‑functional responses, and manage a forward grid of consultations with clear KPIs, while building credibility with senior external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Experience in utility/infrastructure regulation (water industry) or equivalent.
• Experience in policy development.
• Ability to convey complex subject matter clearly, in writing and orally.
• Highly organized with multi-project portfolio management.
• Proven ability to build internal and external relationships.
• Credibility and impact with external senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Horizon scanning and identifying regulatory opportunities/risks.
• Develop and maintain regulatory positions and provide policy feedback.
• Lead policy consultation responses.
• Maintain forward policy portfolio with KPIs.

Skills

Regulatory policy

Policy development

Stakeholder engagement

Portfolio management

Communication

Job description

The water sector in England and Wales stands at the threshold of major reform, with a new Clean Water Bill expected this year and significant associated policy and regulatory change. Together, this will lead to a transformation in how the sector plans and invests for the long term and how it works to deliver improved service, resilience and environmental outcomes. If you want to influence how future water policy and regulation evolves, help define what ‘good’ looks like and achieve change that will stand for years to come, then take a look at this exciting and highly rewarding opportunity.

You will own and deliver discrete/standalone regulatory policy submissions and support effective delivery and governance around business-wide regulatory policy representations. You will engage internal stakeholders across the business to marshal and distil policy evidence and arguments, securing agreement from senior internal stakeholders up to and including the Executive Committee and Board. The volume of regulatory change means this is a fast-moving area. Adept at juggling multiple projects, you will use agile systems and processes to maintain grip and alignment across a wide-ranging regulatory policy agenda. Using your external networks, you will identify opportunities to promote change through other stakeholders.

What you will be doing as Regulatory Policy Lead

Horizon scanning

Make sense of external regulatory policy intelligence to identify regulatory opportunities and risks, ensuring that the implications of these are communicated effectively and are acted on, including how they are reflected in our corporate risk management.

Regulatory policy

Develop and maintain regulatory positions on existing and new requirements, leveraging your understanding of operational and infrastructure realities to create evidence-led feedback on new policy proposals, providing insight into the business on the impact and implications.

Policy consultation responses

Lead policy consultation responses drawing on expertise from inside Thames Water and beyond. Support content delivery on major cross-cutting responses.

Policy Portfolio Management

Maintain and develop a forward ‘grid’ of policy consultations, and track these with appropriate KPIs for delivery and external impact.

What you should bring to the role?

• Previous experience in utility/infrastructure regulation, obtained in the water industry (company, regulator or advisor) or comparable infrastructure.
• Previous experience in policy development.
• Able to convey complex subject matter (including data) simply, including effective advocacy orally and in writing.
• Highly organised, adept in managing a portfolio of initiatives, with the ability to draw on cross-functional subject matter experts as appropriate to underpin delivery.
• A track record of building and maintaining effective internal and external relationships to deliver change.
• Credibility and impact with external senior stakeholders.

What's in it for you?

This year we continued to make good progress in delivering the biggest upgrade to our infrastructure in 150 years. We all know the turnaround of our business will take time, but we are now starting to see improvements in our performance. Join Thames Water at a pivotal moment in our turnaround, and in the reform of the regulatory framework in which we operate. You’ll have the opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping our future while building your own career as part of our strategic journey.

• Competitive salary £65,000 - £75,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (Plus bank holidays)
• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Health Care
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing