Head of Strategy

Do you want to make a difference in an interesting and important sector?

Head of Strategy
Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS)
Stirling (Hybrid working)
Permanent | Full-time
£75,000 – £95,000

At WICS, we regulate for the long term by challenging, supporting and enabling the water industry in Scotland to deliver world-class services that are fair, sustainable, and resilient. As a small but influential public body, we are trusted to set direction, ask difficult questions, and bring people together to deliver a better outcome for customers and communities.

We're now looking for an outstanding strategic thinker to join us as Head of Strategy. This is a rare opportunity to work at the heart of public policy and regulation, in a role that blends analytical depth, stakeholder engagement, and long-term planning.

You’ll join a close-knit, values-driven team in our Stirling office with the flexibility to work from home part of the week. If you’re curious, collaborative, and looking for a mission-led role that offers real impact. This could be your next move.

The Head of Strategy plays a pivotal role in delivering our flagship Strategic Review of Charges, which sets the regulatory framework for customer pricing, investment, and service standards across Scotland’s water industry.

In this role, you will:

• Shape the long‑term direction of the Strategic Review of Charges
• Lead WICS’s approach to horizon scanning, policy development and customer research
• Represent WICS on high‑level advisory groups and in cross‑government forums
• Work closely with the Director of Pricing and senior leadership team to ensure coherence and impact
• Build strategic relationships with stakeholders across government, industry, and the customer voice
• Collaborate with analysts and economists to ensure our regulation is robust, transparent, and forward‑looking

We’re interested in people who bring clarity to complexity and have a track record of strategic delivery in a public, regulatory, or analytical environment.

You will need:

• Excellent analytical and policy development skills
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities
• Experience in economic regulation, public policy, or strategic consultancy
• The confidence to engage senior stakeholders with credibility and tact
• A mindset grounded in public value, fairness, and future thinking

We also value (but do not require):

• Experience working with or within regulated utilities
• Knowledge of customer research, behavioural insight, or public engagement

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) is the independent economic regulator of the Scottish water industry. We are a non‑departmental public body accountable to the Scottish Parliament, with a small but highly skilled team committed to fairness, transparency, and long‑term thinking.

We operate with a clear sense of purpose, guided by the principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Our current Corporate Plan is focused on enabling long‑term value for customers while supporting the Scottish Government’s ambition for a flourishing and sustainable water sector.

• A strong culture of inclusion, learning and integrity
• The chance to shape long‑term policy in a sector that matters
• A supportive and intellectually curious team environment
• A rare opportunity to grow your influence in public service without needing to relocate to London

All applicants must be eligible to work in the UK at the time of employment. For further details regarding the eligibility criteria please access the UK Government website by following this link:

We welcome applications from candidates who have a disability and who satisfy the basic criteria. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application or interview process, please contact us at recruitmentt .

We welcome applications from a broad range of backgrounds who are passionate about driving better outcomes through evidence, rigour, and public purpose.

Please submit a one-page CV along with a one-page cover letter evidencing how your skills and experience meet the criteria for this role to recruitmentt .

Applications close on 11 March 2026 at midnight.