Head of Economic Regulation

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City:
Cardiff

Address:
Cardiff, Wales, GB, CF3 0LT

Job Requisition Number 9292

Work Type Permanent

Job Function Legal and Regulation

Salary Range £100,000 - £125,000

Base South East Hub

Closing date Tuesday 6th October 2026 at 23:59

Reporting to the Regulation Director, the Head of Economic Regulation is responsible for Championing Dŵr Cymru's economic regulation activities. The role provides strategic oversight of price control development, economic regulatory policy, and engagement with economic regulators, governments and other stakeholders. You will ensure that regulatory strategies, submissions and negotiations protect customer interests, support long-term affordability and resilience, and enable the delivery of Dŵr Cymru's strategic goals.

As a senior Manager within Finance, Regulation & Business Performance, you will provide expert economic insight, oversee regulatory tactics, manage specialist teams and support Executive and Board decision-making in line with the Target Operating Model.

• 1. Own economic regulation activities for the company, ensuring alignment with corporate priorities, customer outcomes and regulatory expectations.
• 2. Own and lead on outcomes aspects of price reviews, including performance commitments, price control deliverables and other incentives frameworks.
• 3. Provide strategic management for engagement with economic regulators and government.
• 4. Oversee and lead the development of regulatory tactics and responses to draft and final determinations.
• 5. Oversee regulatory analysis and evidence supporting regulatory submissions and negotiations.
• 6. Provide expert advice to Executive and Board on economic regulatory issues, trade-offs and risks.
• 7. Coordinate economic regulatory inputs across Finance, Assets, Operations and Strategy to ensure coherent submissions.
• 8. Facilitate responses to policy consultations and developments impacting economic regulation. Representing the organisation externally, contributing to industry forums, consultations and policy discussions.
• 9. Ensure robust governance, assurance and quality control of economic regulatory outputs.
• 10. Represent Welsh Water externally at industry forums, regulatory working groups and stakeholder events, contributing to sector-wide policy development and best practice.

The following are essential requirements for the recruitment of the role:

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in economics, finance, regulation, or a related discipline.
• Professionally qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or economist

• Extensive senior-level experience in economic regulation within a regulated utility or similar complex regulatory environment.
• Proven experience leading regulatory submissions, price controls and regulatory negotiations with particular emphasis on outcomes.
• Current experience managing price review processes, including business plan development, determinations and appeals
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with economic regulators and representing organisational positions at senior level.
• Proven track record of commissioning and managing external assurance providers on price control submissions including business plan tables.
• Experience managing specialist regulatory or economic teams and coordinating complex cross-business inputs.
• Demonstrated ability to guide and support high-performing teams and deliver complex cross-functional programmes.

• Deep understanding of economic regulation, price controls and regulatory frameworks in the water sector or comparable industries.
• Strong knowledge of outcomes frameworks, performance incentives, cost assessment and risk…