Regulatory Strategy Specialist

Yorkshire Water; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Private health care

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Wellness days

Retail savings scheme

Online GP service

Cycle to work

Gym discounts

Job summary

Yorkshire Water is seeking a Regulatory Specialist for Major Projects / DPC to join our Regulation team in Leeds. You will lead regulatory oversight of major infrastructure, ensuring compliance with Ofwat DPC requirements and RAPID guidance while supporting planning and price review submissions.

Working with Capital Delivery, Commercial and Finance, you will provide expert regulatory and commercial advice, manage regulatory risks across the project lifecycle, and coordinate submissions and

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of Ofwat regulatory framework, including Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC), Price Reviews, business planning and regulatory accounting.
• Experience interpreting complex regulatory requirements and translating them into practical business actions and investment decisions.
• Good understanding of major infrastructure projects, procurement models, commercial arrangements and contract structures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks, evaluate options and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, submissions and briefing materials.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders, regulators and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple complex workstreams and competing deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strategic and collaborative mindset, with the ability to work across diverse teams, challenge constructively, and ensure compliance with regulatory obligations while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.

Responsibilities

• Lead regulatory oversight of major infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with Ofwat Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) requirements, RAPID guidance, licence obligations and regulatory frameworks.
• Support the identification, assessment and delivery of DPC-eligible schemes as part of business planning, strategic reviews and price review submissions.
• Provide expert regulatory and commercial advice on major investment programmes, procurement strategies, bulk supply agreements and complex commercial arrangements.
• Manage regulatory risks associated with major projects, ensuring robust governance, compliance and assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate and support high-quality regulatory submissions, including DPC gateway submissions, business cases, consultation responses and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Build strong relationships across Capital Delivery, Strategy, Commercial and Finance teams to ensure regulatory requirements are embedded in decision-making and investment planning.
• Represent the Regulation team on key business forums and working groups, influencing the development and delivery of major infrastructure programmes.
• Contribute to Yorkshire Water’s regulatory strategy by monitoring industry developments, shaping policy positions and supporting engagement with Ofwat, RAPID and wider industry stakeholders.

Skills

Ofwat regulatory framework

Regulatory submissions

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Risk management

Project governance

Regulatory strategy

Education

Degree-qualified in Economics, Engineering, Law, Finance, Public Policy or related subject

Job description

Regulatory Specialist – Major Projects / DPC

• We offer a competitive salary, depending on experience up to £65,000 (band 3b)
• A company car allowance (£500 per month/£6,000 per year, based on full-time employment on joining the company). You can opt to sign up to the EV Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme 6 months after joining the company.
• Annual incentive related bonus (up to 15% of annual salary).
• Private health care (self only)
• Attractive pension scheme (up to 12% company contribution)
• Life assurance cover of 4 times pensionable salary
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays – plus 2 extra wellness days!
• A great benefits package – choose from health cash plan scheme, critical illness insurance, dental insurance, life assurance flex and partner cover.
• Retail savings scheme
• Online GP service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discounts and many more!

Location: Leeds Valley Park - Hybrid Working (averaging 2-3 days in the office a week)

Work type: Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday.

What we do:

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of people who visit our region each year, can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it’s so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire’s water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region’s health, wellbeing, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers means that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Regulation team are a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

The Regulatory Specialist – Major Projects / DPC plays a critical role in supporting Yorkshire Water’s major infrastructure investment programme. Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) is a competitive delivery route for major infrastructure projects, where a third party is appointed to design, build, finance and potentially operate assets on behalf of the water company. Yorkshire Water is delivering several major capital projects through the DPC route, and the role focuses on ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements set out by Ofwat and RAPID.

Working closely with Capital Delivery, Commercial, Finance and Strategy teams, the role provides regulatory oversight, challenge and assurance to ensure projects are developed, procured and delivered in line with regulatory expectations while maximising value for customers and managing commercial and regulatory risk.

Where you fit in:

As our Regulatory Specialist you will

• Lead regulatory oversight of major infrastructure projects, ensuring compliance with Ofwat Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC) requirements, RAPID guidance, licence obligations and regulatory frameworks.
• Support the identification, assessment and delivery of DPC-eligible schemes as part of business planning, strategic reviews and price review submissions.
• Provide expert regulatory and commercial advice on major investment programmes, procurement strategies, bulk supply agreements and complex commercial arrangements.
• Manage regulatory risks associated with major projects, ensuring robust governance, compliance and assurance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate and support high-quality regulatory submissions, including DPC gateway submissions, business cases, consultation responses and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Build strong relationships across Capital Delivery, Strategy, Commercial and Finance teams to ensure regulatory requirements are embedded in decision-making and investment planning.
• Represent the Regulation team on key business forums and working groups, influencing the development and delivery of major infrastructure programmes.
• Contribute to Yorkshire Water’s regulatory strategy by monitoring industry developments, shaping policy positions and supporting engagement with Ofwat, RAPID and wider industry stakeholders.

What skills & qualifications you will need:

• Strong knowledge of Ofwat’s regulatory framework, including Direct Procurement for Customers (DPC), Price Reviews, business planning and regulatory accounting.
• Experience interpreting complex regulatory requirements and translating them into practical business actions and investment decisions.
• Good understanding of major infrastructure projects, procurement models, commercial arrangements and contract structures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess risks, evaluate options and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, submissions and briefing materials.
• Proven ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, including senior leaders, regulators and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple complex workstreams and competing deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
• Strategic and collaborative mindset, with the ability to work across diverse teams, challenge constructively, and ensure compliance with regulatory obligations while maintaining the highest standards of integrity.

You will also benefit from having:

• Experience working on major capital programmes, DPC schemes or within a regulated infrastructure environment, ideally within the water sector.
• Proven experience preparing or supporting regulatory submissions, business plans, investment cases or gated approval processes.
• Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline such as Economics, Engineering, Law, Finance, Public Policy or a related subject.
• Strong understanding of best practice in major project delivery, regulatory frameworks and infrastructure investment across regulated sectors.

Although we operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it’s important to us that we support flexible working patterns and job share options (when we can), to help you make the best of both your work and home life. We know that juggling childcare responsibilities or getting that ideal work/life balance isn’t always easy!

All our roles are subject to a medical questionnaire, and further medicals when required.

We are committed to removing barriers and ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

If you have an accessibility need, disability, or condition that requires changes to the recruitment process, please include this information in your application. We will then discuss any reasonable adjustments required.