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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Economic Regulation in Redhill
✨Dive into Local Government Events
Get yourself to local government events and public sector job fairs. These are great for meeting recruiters and understanding what different organisations, like South West Water, are looking for. Plus, it shows your genuine interest in the sector!
✨Join Relevant Networks
Look for communities focused on public sector careers. Whether it’s local networking groups or online forums, connecting with professionals in the field can provide insider knowledge and opportunities that you won’t find on typical job boards.
✨Utilise Your University’s Resources
If you’re freshly graduated or still studying, make the most of your university's careers service. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies like South West Water and can help you get your foot in the door for these full-time public sector roles.
✨Stay Updated with Government Initiatives
Keep your finger on the pulse regarding new government projects and policies. Understanding current initiatives can give you a leg up in interviews, showing that you are informed and genuinely interested in making a difference in the public sector.
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell your story and convey your passion for public service. Discuss why you want to work for South West Water and how your values align with their mission. Be genuine and let your enthusiasm shine through—this can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at South West Water
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with South West Water, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Collaboration
The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Craft a few STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories that demonstrate your experience in similar roles. Whether it’s a project that made a difference in the community or a challenging situation you managed, be ready to express how your skills and experiences make you a valuable asset for South West Water.
