Interim Head of Economic Regulation

Interim Head of Economic Regulation

Location: London or Manchester

Rate – Negotiable

Duration – 12 months

Since being awarded the Smart Meter Communication Licence in 2013, our client has designed, built, and now manages the telecommunications technology infrastructure that underpins the smart meter roll-out.

This is a critical role, and we are seeking an individual with significant experience of developing and operating price control structures, including the relevant performance management and incentive regimes. The role will predominantly focus on delivering a successful price control outcome from the RY24/25 ex post process and lead on developing our RY25/26 submission to the Regulator.

This role also offers an exciting opportunity to help shape the future regime to ensure the transition from the ex post to ex ante framework operates in a controlled and planned way. This will require proactivity, resilience, and agility of mind.

Working closely with members of the ExCo, Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the wider Strategy and Regulation (S&R) team, the Head of Economic Regulation will have the following key areas of accountability:

• Lead on delivering of annual ex post price control process during this period. The end-to-end process includes preparing the annual submission, managing clarification questions, and responding to the regulator’s consultation on the organisation’s allowable costs.
• Identify priority areas where the organisation needs to focus the narrative and engage with Ofgem to justify spend and avoid cost disallowances.
• Lead on improvement activities for internal price control processes and our approach to engaging with stakeholders (including Ofgem and customers).
• Lead the price control risk assessment process and ensure mitigations are identified and tracked. This will involve attending the ExCo-level Investment Committee for relevant items.
• Work closely with the Director of Ex Ante to ensure the organisation is ready for the transition to ex ante (expected to begin in late 2026) – e.g. ensuring processes are in place for in-period monitoring of performance, ‘re-opening’ the cost base, and conducting a retrospective ‘true-up’ of costs at the end of the reporting period.
• Begin work on the second ex ante Business Plan (for the period starting April 2028), requiring significant input and close working across the business.
• Oversee and drive value from the support provided by external partners in delivering these outcomes.

Skills and experience

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate significant experience in leading price control processes and providing strategic advice to senior level decision-makers in regulatory business (or Government).

They will be able to provide thought leadership for the development of new regulatory regimes / regulatory changes and the ability to advise on how best to achieve the organisation’s objectives whilst operating within the regulatory framework.

They will have excellent communication skills and senior stakeholder management expertise allowing them to tailor communications to explain complex issues concisely and clearly. This includes demonstrable experience of authoring high-quality documentation and briefing notes (including Board papers).They will be experienced at working in a complex and heavily regulated environment with multiple stakeholders, and in collaborating with multi-functional teams.

Candidates will need to demonstrate strong leadership and coaching skills to help others learn and be able to manage and prioritise time and workload and adapt to changing priorities.