Permanent
Principal Economist
£59,660-£78,000 per annum
Lead high-profile economic analysis and shape the future of water regulation through policy, markets and regulatory reform.
Lauren Maddocks
Your dream job is waiting
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London or Birmingham
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450-550 Headcount
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Industries; Regulator
- Corporate Website
Welcome to Ofwat!
A rare moment to shape an essential public service.
Ofwat is the Water Services Regulation Authority and the economic regulator of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales. It holds companies to account for delivering the best for customers, communities and the environment, and oversees the markets in the sector to ensure they work for the people who rely on them. Through its five-yearly price reviews, Ofwat oversees billions of pounds of investment, including a £104 billion package currently underway to improve services and secure water supplies for future generations.
The sector is entering a genuinely new chapter, with government reforms set to bring Ofwat together with the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England to form new integrated water regulators for England and Wales. It's a shift towards greater stability, transparency and joined-up regulation. If you want your work to matter, this is a rare moment to join an organisation shaping the future of an essential public service, while contributing to work that affects millions of customers every day.
Vacancies with Ofwat
Permanent
Permanent
Economist- Senior Associate
£50,000-£55,000 per annum
Support major economic and policy projects at Ofwat, influencing regulation, reform and investment across the water sector.
Thomas Barnby
The Directorate and the Chief Economists Team
The Chief Economists Team sits within Ofwat's Office of the Chief Executive, reporting directly to the Chief Executive. It drives the quality of Ofwat's economic analysis across the organisation. The team leads on the transition to the new regulatory framework, mergers and competition work, and impact assessments. It also shapes regulatory policy on price reviews, market development, the environment, customers and innovation.
Behind the Regulator: The People
Ofwat's people are at the heart of the organisation, guided by a People Strategy that keeps this focus central to everything it does. Its 2025 People Survey shows strong results: 82% find their work meaningful, 79% rate their manager highly, and 85% describe their team environment as positive. Nine in ten colleagues feel trusted, supported, and say their work is interesting. Ofwat is committed to a fair, inclusive and collaborative environment, and nine in ten colleagues say they're treated with respect and that individual differences are valued.