At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead high-profile projects and drive change initiatives across Ofwat.
- Company: Join Ofwat, the regulator for water services in England and Wales.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous leave, professional development, and exclusive discounts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on water services while enjoying a supportive work culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in complex project delivery and relevant professional qualifications required.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for career growth and community engagement.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
Join Ofwat’s Portfolio Management Office Team as a Principal Senior Delivery Lead. We have a fixed term contract until the end of December 2027 available, but it is also open to loans and secondments.
Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working.
About Us: We’re Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority – a non‑ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales. As the economic regulator of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, our role is to enable, incentivise and hold companies to account for providing the very best for customers, communities and the environment. We also oversee the markets in the water sector to ensure they’re working for customers.
Following the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report and subsequent White Paper – ‘New Vision for Water’, the UK government has set out a bold new direction – one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.
The Role: We have an exciting opportunity for a Principal Senior Delivery Lead to join our Portfolio Management Office (PMO) team. This role will provide senior delivery leadership and capacity across complex, high‑priority change initiatives across Ofwat, strengthening organisational capacity and ensuring disciplined, outcome‑focused execution in areas of strategic importance.
Key deliverables: In this role you will be expected to:
- Play a leading role in driving delivery of and co‑ordinating across high‑profile cross‑organisational work, acting as a focal point for Ofwat staff on relevant issues.
- Establish and maintain effective control and oversight practices, including routine progress tracking, clear reporting, and drive purposeful meetings.
- Support and facilitate timely and informed decision‑making, surfacing critical issues, anticipating risks and clarifying options for helping things to move forward.
- Manage interdependencies across workstreams to keep delivery aligned and remove blockers to progress.
- Drive internal stakeholder engagement, maintaining a shared understanding of goals across relevant teams, bridging gaps and handling duplication where necessary.
- Provide targeted senior delivery capacity in priority areas, deploying flexibly to stabilise, accelerate or unblock complex work as required.
About You: Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:
- Lead Criterion 1: Proven successful experience in a complex project/programme/portfolio environment working with multiple senior stakeholders to progress and deliver time‑sensitive work.
- Lead Criterion 2: A professional project/programme delivery qualification i.e. MSP, MoP, PRINCE2, P3O, AMPM. Experience of leading complex change programmes and teams through significant transformation, while balancing business as usual demands, and ensuring changes are effectively embedded.
- Experience of meeting challenging deadlines, managing multiple priorities while demonstrating the ability to take initiative and work independently.
Why You Should Join Us:
- People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do – we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you’ll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
- Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture built 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 Birmingham offices.
- Good employer pension contributions.
- 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 15 April 2026.
Principal Senior Delivery Lead employer: Ofwat
Contact Detail:
Ofwat Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Senior Delivery Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Ofwat on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding Ofwat's mission and recent initiatives. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in making a difference in the water sector.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your delivery skills! As a Principal Senior Delivery Lead, you’ll need to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders. Mock interviews with friends can help you nail your pitch.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Ofwat.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Senior Delivery Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the key deliverables and essential skills mentioned in the job description. We want to see how you can bring your unique strengths to the role!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this role is all about senior delivery leadership, don’t hold back on sharing examples of how you've successfully led complex projects or programmes. We love seeing real-life stories that demonstrate your ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive results.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. Clarity is key!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands and we can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ofwat
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Ofwat's mission and recent initiatives. Familiarise yourself with their role in regulating the water sector and how your experience aligns with their goals. This will show that you're genuinely interested and prepared.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led complex projects or programmes. Highlight your ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver results under pressure. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think of scenarios where you had to navigate challenges in project delivery, manage risks, or engage stakeholders effectively. Practising these will help you articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Engage and Ask Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about Ofwat’s current projects, team dynamics, or future challenges. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.