Operational Performance Principal

Job summary

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for an Operational Performance Principal to join our Operational Performance and Data Strategy Team within the Delivery Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s White Paper, A new vision for water.

Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.

While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.

You can find out more about why you should join Ofwat, our strategy, values and our framework for success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack.

Job description

The Operational Performance Principal role sits within the Delivery Directorate. The Directorate supports Ofwat's objective to be an assertive voice in strategic and investment decision-making for the sector, working with other regulators and governments by shaping the future direction and transformation of the sector through alignment with government and other stakeholders, and leading innovation. The Directorate drives up sector and company performance by regularly, visibly, and proactively challenging companies on their performance, using data and operational expertise.

Working closely with colleagues within the Delivery Directorate and across Ofwat, you will identify areas where analysis and insight is needed, developing approaches to extract insights, understanding the application of that insight to the sector and communicating your findings; influencing how we deliver our strategic goals. You will play an important role in delivering our strategy and will need to be able to respond flexibly to the needs across the organisation.

A key aspect of the team's work is the publication of our annual Water Company Performance Report (WCPR). This role will interact with, and influence the WCPR, through the performance insight the team generates and evaluates. The team is also a key part in the implementation of our Turnaround Oversight Regime (PR24 final determinations) and how we monitor and hold companies to account for poor performance.

Water sector expertise is required for this position. However, we will consider applications from a wide variety of backgrounds, including operations, asset management, engineering, scientific, technical, regulation, economics etc.

Additionally, the role also requires a high level of analytical competency; problem solving skills; excellent written and oral communication skills; well-developed people and stakeholder management skills and a track record of delivering against challenging deadlines. You will also be expected, when required, to manage and lead the work of consultants and perform the role of intelligent client to ensure maximum value is derived from any external support.

Ofwat is an agile working environment, so you can expect opportunities to support other directorates and to move around the organisation as work priorities shift.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Lead the delivery of key packages of performance insights policy work ranging from problem solving projects, analytical projects, monitoring projects to policy development projects. In each of these instances generating insight from performance information will be key alongside identifying and evaluating further information that may be required.
• Lead and project manage high profile activities that feed directly into key policy areas against challenging timescales utilising data from multiple policy areas. This may involve leading the work of consultants.
• Lead and develop clear, well researched policy options for Directors and our Senior Leadership Team based on the insight and evaluation generated from yourself and the wider team.
• Lead the delivery of key outputs and publications to challenging timetables for a variety of audiences. This will include supporting the wider team on annual publication of the Water Company Performance Report.
• Lead, deliver and manage, complex, stakeholder interactions to ensure opportunities for internal and external collaboration are fully utilised.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of data and insights within the organisation, proactively sharing skills and knowledge.
• Present insights/policy proposals to internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide coaching and support to colleagues, proactively sharing skills and knowledge.
• Develop your skills through continued learning and development within your profession and within the wider directorate you work in.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead Criterion: Excellent knowledge of the water sector, including a detailed understanding of how Ofwat monitors and measures company and sector performance in order to hold companies to account.
2. Lead Criterion: Relevant water sector experience including a background in one of the following areas: operations, asset management, engineering, scientific, technical, regulation, economics etc.
3. Excellent problem-solving skills, including an ability to use performance information and analysis to appraise the quality of improvement plans, make recommendations and to apply challenge where necessary.
4. Experience of using data, both quantitative and qualitative, to draw out key actionable insights and present conclusions to influence thinking and policy. This will include an ability to present robust analysis with options and recommendations to peers and senior leaders.
5. Experience of wo