Powered by Water, Driven by Purpose
South West Water keeps the South West flowing with safe, reliable drinking water and wastewater services across some of the UK’s most stunning landscapes.
We’re proud to be part of Pennon Group, a leader in the UK water sector, working towards a greener future. Our goals include lowering our carbon footprint, planting 300,000 trees, restoring peatlands and supporting farmers and landowners to improve water quality and wildlife.
Whether you’re starting out or seeking a new challenge, our scale and ambition create opportunities for you to shape your own career.
Ready to make a splash? Join our team today.
Head of Economic Regulation
As a company operating in a highly regulated industry, maintaining trust with regulators, customers and stakeholders is critical. We are seeking the Head of Economic Regulation to play a key part of shaping our regulatory strategy and positioning the organisation for long‑term success. This is a full‑time, permanent position and can be based out of Exeter, Bristol or Redhill HQ. Salary will be discussed at the interview stage, depending on experience and skills.
Reporting to the Director of Economic Regulation and Chief Strategy & Regulatory Affairs Officer, this role leads on economic regulation, market reform and price review strategy, ensuring the business is well‑positioned within an evolving regulatory landscape.
You will combine strategic foresight, regulatory expertise and stakeholder leadership to influence industry developments, strengthen regulator relationships and drive effective regulatory outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the organisation’s economic regulation strategy, monitoring, interpreting and influencing trends across the water sector, while developing long‑term approaches aligned to market reform and increasing competition.
- Lead critical elements of periodic price reviews, including the development of regulatory business plans and the design of associated incentives, ensuring robust programme management and governance across all regulatory submissions.
- Take ownership of charges policy and tariff strategy, including the delivery of pricing reforms, and play a central role in building and maintaining strong, effective relationships with economic regulators.
- Coordinate responses to consultations, investigations and inquiries.
- Oversee the regulatory reporting framework and supervision arrangements, ensuring compliance with licence obligations and merger undertakings.
- Work closely with Finance and Business Unit leaders to balance customer affordability with financial sustainability, bringing expertise in utility risk, return and economic valuation.
- Collaborate across Legal, Compliance, IT and Customer teams to ensure cohesive regulatory delivery, while driving business improvement through efficiency benchmarking and industry analysis.
- Support capability building by delivering training and developing internal expertise in economic regulation.
What We’re Looking For
- Significant experience (7–10+ years) in economic regulation, ideally within the water or utilities sector
- Proven leadership experience (minimum 3 years managing teams or strategic programmes)
- Strong track record delivering regulatory programmes, including price reviews
Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker with a proactive, solutions‑led mindset
- Ability to translate complex regulatory frameworks into clear, actionable insight
- Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
- Highly organised with the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure
Qualifications
Required
- Professional qualification in Economics and/or Finance (or equivalent experience)
- Advanced skills in Excel and PowerPoint
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualifications
- Experience in data analysis, investigations or project management
What Will Motivate You
- Shaping the future of economic regulation within a critical national infrastructure sector
- Driving innovation and change during a time of industry reform
- Building and developing high‑performing teams
- Working at pace on complex, high‑impact challenges
- Influencing strategy at the highest levels of the organisation
Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to lead at the forefront of regulatory strategy, shaping outcomes that impact millions of customers while driving sustainable, long‑term value for the business.
What’s In It For You
We know our people drive our success – so we’re committed to offering an excellent range of benefits, including:
- 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
- Bonus Plan
- Private Healthcare
- Company car or cash for car allowance
- Competitive contributory pension
- Share‑save scheme
- Health benefits & wellbeing support programmes
- Group discounts
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Financial support services
- Development and training opportunities … and much more!
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
