Head of Economic Regulation

Shape the Future of Water Regulation

A fantastic opportunity to join a great team at a critical time for the water industry. This is a time of change and opportunity—where your expertise can make a real difference for customers and the environment. Roles like this do not come up very often, and this one offers the chance to influence the future of water regulation in a meaningful and lasting way.

This is a high-impact position that bridges regulatory strategy, price review negotiations, and AMP delivery execution. You’ll be instrumental in shaping our business plan, guiding our response to Ofwat’s Draft and Final Determinations, and advising our Executive and Board on financial and strategic implications. You’ll also play a key role in preparing for potential CMA referrals.

• Lead the development of our price review business plan, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements around costs, efficiency, outcomes, and incentives.
• Provide expert analysis and recommendations on Ofwat’s determinations, influencing decisions at the highest levels.
• Collaborate across finance, asset operations, and regulatory teams to translate complex requirements into robust deliverables.
• Assess and mitigate price control risks, ensuring Thames Water’s financial resilience.
• Develop agile planning frameworks to support executive and investor decision-making.
• Drive closure of evidence gaps to strengthen our position for CMA referral readiness.
• Manage ad-hoc regulatory submissions and engage with regulators to shape future frameworks.

• Deep expertise in UK water sector regulation, especially price reviews and interim determinations.
• Highly numerate, ideally with a mathematics, economics or science‑based degree (or equivalent), though this is not essential.
• Proven ability to deliver strategic insights using both operational and financial data.
• Experience in influencing at the Board level and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with a collaborative mindset.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.

• A strategic leadership role with visibility across the business.
• The opportunity to shape regulatory outcomes that impact millions.
• A collaborative, forward‑thinking environment where your expertise drives real change.
• Competitive salary - £90,000 - £120,000 depending on your experience.
• Car Allowance £5,800.
• Private Health Insurance.
• Annual Leave – 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Generous Pension Scheme through AON.
• Performance‑related pay plan directly linked to company performance measures and targets.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy meaningful career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region, and our planet.

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