Principal Legal Advisor

Join Ofwat’s Legal Team as a Principal Legal Advisor

* Office Location: Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD)

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

We are looking for a Principal Legal Adviser to join our growing Legal Team which is part of the Office of the Chief Executive Directorate. We're involved at the heart of Ofwat's work, particularly at this critical time for the water sector. We work with all Directorates, embedded in the policy teams' work, to help evolve and deliver Ofwat's strategy, whilst navigating and managing legal risk.

Your role will have a particular focus on the work of our innovative partnership (RAPID – Regulator’s Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development) with the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID's work is vital to meeting current and future customers' needs, and the team has a direct impact on ensuring companies are delivering for customers.

But you will also have the opportunity to get involved in other work areas within Ofwat as the business needs arise, particularly in related work areas such as our wider work on major infrastructure projects, environment policy and strategic water resources and wastewater planning.

To find more details about the role and deliverables please click Apply.

About You

Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:

• Qualified Solicitor or Barrister in England and Wales or at least 3 years’ experience acting in a role akin to that of a qualified Solicitor or Barrister in a legal environment.
• Experience of working in a complex organisation within the water sector and/or another regulated sector (utilities preferable) in the specific areas of regulatory, environmental, major projects, administrative law or competition law.
• Experience of delivering solutions-focussed legal advice on the development and implementation of policy objectives and/or the implementation of strategic government projects and programmes.
• Ability to, and experience of successfully influencing and/or negotiating with internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues, government departments, external lawyers, counterparties, and partner organisations.
• Experience of successfully applying analytical skills in a complex legislative structure within an innovative policy environment.
• Ability to, and experience of effective and efficient planning, including prioritisation and delegation

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 r ewarding 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 16 March 2025