Strategy and Regulation Manager; Sustainable abstraction

About the role

Reporting to the Water Resources Environment Manager, the Abstraction Strategy and Regulation Manager will lead on abstraction strategy, regulatory risk management, and public interest case development.

You’ll act as the focal point for managing abstraction licence change risks across AMP programmes, ensuring emerging risks are identified early, robust mitigation is in place, and regulatory commitments are delivered on time. Working collaboratively across the business and with external regulators, you’ll shape long‑term sustainable abstraction strategy and integrate abstraction requirements into key programmes such as WRMP
29, PR29, AWINEP and the Environmental Destination Strategy.

• Lead risk management for abstraction licence changes across AMP programmes, including WINEP and TLL

• Maintain a central record of proposed licence changes, tracking drivers, risks, dependencies and mitigations

• Monitor progress and emerging risks, ensuring timely escalation and intervention where required

• Identify when abstraction caps cannot be met and lead the development of robust Public Interest Cases (IROPI / OPI)

• Engage proactively with regulators, consultants and internal teams to secure outcomes that protect water supplies and enable compliance

• Collaborate with the Sustainable Abstraction Programme Team to design environmental mitigation and compensatory measures

• Shape and influence long‑term sustainable abstraction strategy, including innovative approaches such as dynamic abstraction licensing

• Ensure abstraction needs and licence caps are fully and accurately reflected in WRMP
  29, PR29 and wider environmental programmes

• Provide strategic insight on emerging regulatory trends, risks and opportunities

• Influence future regulatory direction through proactive engagement and policy shaping

• Manage consultant support to deliver technical, regulatory and evidence‑based case development

• Champion a strong health, safety and continuous improvement culture

• Undergraduate degree level qualification or equivalent

• Experience leading complex project or programme management activities

• Strong experience working with regulators, ideally within environmental or water sectors

• Proven ability to develop and present robust, evidence‑based regulatory cases

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting to senior stakeholders

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret emerging risks and complex data

• Ability to lead, influence and inspire across multidisciplinary teams

• Highly organised, self‑motivated and comfortable managing competing priorities

• Working towards chartered status (desirable)

• Water company or utilities sector experience (desirable)

• Personal private health care

• 26 days annual leave, rising with service, plus Bank Holidays

• Option to swap Christmas and Easter holidays for those celebrated by your religion

• Life cover at 8x your salary

• Personal accident cover up to 5x your salary

• Flexible working options

• Competitive pension scheme – Anglian Water double matches your contribution up to 6%

• Bonus scheme

• A wide range of flexible benefits to support your wellbeing and lifestyle

Anglian Water is not your typical water company. What we do really matters. Water is the lifeblood of our world, and we’re proud of the difference we make every day. We put people at the heart of our business and champion innovation, collaboration and sustainability to protect our environment now and for future generations.

If you’re passionate about environmental protection, enjoy working with complex data and regulations, and want to make a tangible difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing Date: 08/07/2026