At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead economic regulation strategy and influence industry developments for a sustainable future.
- Company: Join South West Water, part of Pennon Group, committed to a greener future.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30 days leave, private healthcare, and a competitive pension scheme.
- Other info: Diversity is our strength; we celebrate uniqueness and foster inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of economic regulation in a critical national infrastructure sector.
- Qualifications: 7-10 years in economic regulation with strong leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
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? As well as lowering our carbon footprint, we're working with partners to plant 300,000 trees, restore peatlands and support 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.
As a company operating in a highly regulated industry, maintaining trust with regulators, customers, and stakeholders is critical. We are seeking a Head of Economic Regulation to play a key part in shaping our regulatory strategy and positioning the organisation for long-term success. This role is a full-time, permanent position and can be based out of our 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- You will 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.
- A key part of the role will involve leading 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.
- You will 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. This includes coordinating responses to consultations, investigations and inquiries.
- The role will oversee the regulatory reporting framework and supervision arrangements, ensuring compliance with licence obligations and merger undertakings.
- Working closely with Finance and Business Unit leaders, you will help balance customer affordability with financial sustainability, bringing expertise in utility risk, return and economic valuation.
- You will collaborate across Legal, Compliance, IT and Customer teams to ensure cohesive regulatory delivery, while driving business improvement through efficiency benchmarking and industry analysis.
- In addition, you will support capability building by delivering training and developing internal expertise in economic regulation.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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:- 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!
Closing Date: 16th June 2026. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Please note that the successful candidate will be subject to a mandatory DBS check as part of the onboarding process.
Be yourself, we like it that way. Together, we will build a culture of belonging, where inclusion is instinctive. Diversity is our strength and a reflection of our communities. We care, we value everyone, we celebrate uniqueness.
Our core values, which are essential to our success, are:
- Be Rock Solid - Build trust and be trusted. Be the one we all look to and can depend on.
- Be You - We want you to bring your best every day. Be yourself and make your mark in your individual way.
- Be the Future - Embrace change. Drive Progress. Own the challenge.
Locations
Head of Economic Regulation in Devon, Plymouth employer: South West Water
At South West Water, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a commitment to employee growth, we provide extensive training opportunities and a comprehensive benefits package, including generous annual leave, private healthcare, and a competitive pension scheme. Join us in Exeter, Bristol, or Redhill, where you can make a meaningful impact in the water sector while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the South West.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Economic Regulation in Devon, Plymouth
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Economic Regulation in Devon, Plymouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Numbers!:In the banking and financial services world, quantifiable achievements are key. Make sure your CV highlights your grades in relevant subjects, any financial certifications you hold, and specific projects where you've delivered measurable results. Employers love to see how your skills translate into real-world success.
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How to prepare for a job interview at South West Water
✨Brush Up on Financial Analysis Skills
Make sure you're well-versed in financial concepts and analytical techniques relevant to banking and financial services. Get comfortable with tools like Excel for modelling or financial forecasting, as technical questions in this area are common during interviews with South West Water.
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✨Network with Industry Professionals
Before your interview, reach out to current or former South West Water employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They'll offer unique insights into the company's culture and the interview process, which can give us a delightful edge in showcasing a good fit for the team.
