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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to transform the water sector and improve performance.
- Company: Ofwat regulates the water sector in England and Wales, ensuring fair pricing and accountability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, pension contributions, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on water resilience while thriving in a supportive, innovative environment.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in innovation, policy development, and stakeholder management required.
- Other info: Join a mission-driven team with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
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.
Innovation Principal employer: Ofwat
Contact Detail:
Ofwat Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Principal
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Ofwat's current initiatives and projects. Understanding their recent innovations and challenges will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the water sector, especially those who have experience with regulatory bodies. Attend industry events or webinars to build connections that could provide insights into the role and potentially offer referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with data-driven approaches and digital technologies. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully implemented innovative solutions in previous roles, as this aligns closely with the job requirements.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your stakeholder management skills by preparing examples of how you've built relationships across diverse groups. Highlighting your ability to influence decision-making will resonate well with Ofwat's focus on collaboration and engagement.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Principal
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to grasp the key responsibilities and required skills for the Innovation Principal position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with these requirements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that not only showcases your qualifications but also demonstrates your passion for innovation in the water sector. Use specific examples from your past experiences to illustrate your ability to lead and implement innovative approaches.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on your extensive experience in leading and designing innovative projects, especially within regulatory or government contexts. Emphasise your stakeholder management skills and any relevant policy development experience.
Showcase Communication Skills: Since excellent communication is crucial for this role, ensure your application reflects your ability to convey complex information clearly. Consider including examples of how you've successfully communicated with diverse audiences in previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ofwat
✨Understand the Role and Its Impact
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Innovation Principal and how it contributes to Ofwat's mission. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals of transforming the water sector and driving innovation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this role involves line management and mentoring, be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your ability to foster an inclusive environment and motivate others towards achieving strategic goals.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement Experience
Ofwat values strong relationships with various stakeholders. Prepare to discuss your experience in stakeholder management, particularly how you've influenced decision-making and built trust across different sectors.
✨Communicate Complex Ideas Clearly
Given the need for excellent communication skills, practice explaining complex technical or regulatory concepts in simple terms. This will demonstrate your ability to convey information effectively to diverse audiences, a key requirement for the role.
