Innovation Principal

Join Ofwat’s Innovation Team as a Innovation Principal * Office Location : Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) with hybrid working* About Us We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. Our work has genuine significance – no other organisation does the work we do. It’s unique and meaningful: keeping our water flowing; ensuring water bills don’t cost a penny more than needed; holding water companies to account. Come and work at the source of everyday life. The Role This is a rare and exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make meaningful change in a vitally important sector, working in an organisation that provides the conditions for its people to thrive. Co-lead, develop and deliver Ofwat's bold and visionary approach to embedding innovation and continuous improvement in the transformation of water sector performance in England and Wales. Be an integral part of the design and delivery of new programmes of work, including the eligibility, application, assessment, monitoring and evaluation of Innovation Fund projects. Engage across sectors, in this country and globally, to accelerate learning for the water sector to tackle the problems faced now and in the future. Have experience in (preferably), or be a strong advocate for, data-driven approaches and the use of digital technologies in transforming the effectiveness of daily working practice. Build strong relationships with government agencies (e.g., Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Defra, Welsh Government), NGOs, academic institutions, stakeholders, and water companies, to understand and influence connections across the water sector. Be a public facing advocate for the water sector, Ofwat and the Innovation Fund, promoting the progress achieved and challenges faced, to engender openness, collaboration and inclusion in all that we do. Input to or shape regulatory programmes and reviews (e.g., Price Reviews, WRMPs, WINEP) to embed innovation as business-as-usual activity. Take a systems thinking, evidence-based approach to ensuring economic regulatory levers and decision making are utilised to the greatest effect, to deliver maximum value for customers, communities, the economy and the environment. Provide line management and mentoring to technical and policy professionals, supporting professional development, workload prioritisation, and delivery against strategic goals. About You Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post: Extensive experience leading, designing and implementing innovative approaches to transform system performance, built on trusted relationships and data enabled approaches, ideally within or alongside a regulator or government department. Experience in developing policy that incentivises the adoption and development of innovative approaches and sustained continuous improvement. Experience of leading people (line management), fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, motivating people and identifying and addressing performance concerns. The ability to inspire, energise and convey a compelling vision for change to a diverse range of audiences, that engenders collective action for change. Excellent communication skills, able to synthesize complex technical, scientific, and economic information for diverse audiences. Knowledge of UK water industry regulation, or other regulated industries with demonstrable transferrable skills. Strategic thinking skills with the ability to influence high-level decision-making. Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills. Why You Should Join Us: Meaningful Impact: You will be joining a team with a sense of mission at its core aiming to build a lasting legacy for future generations by securing our long-term water resilience. Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration. Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting. Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our London or Birmingham offices. Fantastic employer pension contribution of nearly 30%. 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 with each year of service, plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave. Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership. Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies. Up to 3 volunteering days per year. Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work. Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life. Follow the link to Apply for full details about the role, please ensure you have submitted your Applications in full before the below deadline. Closing date : 23.55 on Sunday 3rd August 2025

Location: West Midlands, GB

Posted Date: 7/13/2025