Water Quality Policy Advisor

Job title: Water Quality Policy Advisor

Position type: Permanent

Job reference: 467022

Location: Birmingham (B5 4UA
) or London (E14 4HD
) based with hybrid working

Salary: £40,024 - £48,000

Closing date: Sunday 5th July 2026 at 23:55

Office

Location:

London (E14 4HD
) or Birmingham (B5 4UA
) with hybrid working

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. Following the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report and subsequent White Paper - 'New Vision for Water', the UK government has set out a bold new direction - one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.

Ofwat is working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. We’re also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

We are looking for a Water Quality Policy Advisor to join our Environment team at Senior Associate level. The Environment team is responsible for delivering the environmental policy objectives set out in our strategy while working closely with key environmental stakeholders. The team covers a broad range of areas, including climate change, biodiversity, nature-based solutions, and water quality. We work across Ofwat and the wider sector to drive improvements that deliver positive outcomes for the environment.

Recent developments across the UK water sector increasingly frame wastewater management as a public health issue alongside environmental protection. There is growing recognition and focus on the importance of public health in freshwater settings. This expansion and reform of public health legislation are supporting this shift. For example, changes to bathing water legislation are providing improved monitoring for public health indicators, while increased transparency measures, such as real time monitoring of storm overflows, are enabling better public awareness and risk‑informed use of waterways.

As a Water Quality Policy Advisor, you will be able to demonstrate an understanding for the current legislative landscape, as well as future developments, to help inform policy decisions and support Ofwat fulfil its regulatory duties. You will be comfortable representing Ofwat and communicating evidence to a wide range of environmental stakeholders, including government officials, water companies and eNGOs. You will provide technical detail and make development recommendations, ensuring the solution meets Ofwat's needs whilst navigating differences in water quality policy across the sector.