Technical Policy Advisor in Durham

We have an exciting opportunity for a Technical Policy Advisor to play a key role within our Water team, helping to shape and influence how we deliver our medium and long‑term strategies. In this role, you’ll combine your ability to understand technical concepts and operational processes with strong data analysis skills to support regulatory compliance and the achievement of our wider business plan objectives. You’ll be at the heart of reviewing, challenging, and developing strategies, standards, and technical guidance that enable our internal teams to deliver against key priorities. You’ll also contribute to the development of clear, accurate information for a wide range of external stakeholders, including customers, regulators, and non‑government organisations, ensuring our approach is transparent, robust, and well‑evidenced. Building effective relationships will be central to your success. You’ll work closely with colleagues across the business and engage confidently with external partners, supporting collaboration on strategy development, governance, and regulatory reporting. With a strong eye for detail, you’ll be responsible for ensuring high standards of data quality and governance in all reporting. Over time, you’ll develop a broad understanding of the wider water and wastewater functions, while also having the opportunity to specialise in a key area of water performance as part of your future development pathway. If you’re motivated by influence, collaboration, and making a tangible impact within a critical service, we’d love to hear from you.

You will have the ability to analyse, interpret and clearly present technical data, alongside a strong desire to continue developing your technical knowledge. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for this role, and you will be confident in producing clear, accurate documentation and sharing information effectively with a range of audiences. The varied nature of the role means you will need to be motivated, adaptable and keen to learn. You will be well organised, able to manage a demanding workload, and demonstrate strong stakeholder management skills. You will be self‑driven, results‑focused, and have a proven ability to solve problems and identify effective solutions. You will be confident using a range of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel for data analysis, Word for report writing and PowerPoint for presentations. Experience using GIS systems would be advantageous but is not essential. While knowledge of the water industry, an understanding of regulatory frameworks, or technical experience in water services or broader environmental issues would be beneficial, this is not a requirement. We welcome applications from candidates with the right skills, behaviours and enthusiasm to develop within the role.

Here at Northumbrian Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work. Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity. We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.

Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment. NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.

Here at NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business. We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we’d encourage you to apply.

Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come. We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers. We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business. Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services.

To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.

We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:

• Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days, plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
• Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 10%.
• Free access to local attractions.
• A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
• Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
• Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
• Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance.
• We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
• Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.

This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test. Prospective employees and agency workers in defined safety and security critical roles will be required to undertake a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date. Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.