Senior Director - Major Projects and Markets

Safe, reliable and sustainable water and wastewater services are essential for our day-to-day lives, our wellbeing, and our natural world. As the economic regulator of water and wastewater companies in England and Wales, Ofwat's role is to enable, incentivise and hold companies to account for providing the very best for customers, communities and the environment now and in the future. The work we do is ambitious and meaningful, helping to tackle some of the biggest challenges that threaten the water we all rely on.
Through our five yearly price reviews we oversee billions of pounds of investment into the water sector across England and Wales. We drive the sector to take a longer-term view and to take steps now to protect and enhance the environment, using digital and data innovations and making sure our water supplies are secure for future generations.
If you have a passion for driving positive change, now is your opportunity to join Ofwat and leave a lasting legacy.
You can find out more about Ofwat, our SAILOR Values and our Framework for Success in the attached Information for Candidates Pack., We have an exciting opening for a Senior Director to lead our Major Projects and Markets directorate. The directorate is responsible for the policy and market development for the future pipeline of major infrastructure projects in the water sector in England and Wales, as well as Ofwat's role in the oversight of the development, procurement, and delivery of these projects.
You will have the unique opportunity to lead Ofwat's fast growing major infrastructure projects programme such as the £4.6bn Thames Tideway. This is a key role and will be part of our Senior Leadership team, also working closely with a range of external stakeholders and the sector including water companies, competitive infrastructure providers, investors and business retailers.
You will have a team of approximately 25 members as well as significant external advisory support which will further grow over time as we expect the pipeline of major projects to increase substantially. This area of work is challenging, and you will be key to ensuring that the team continues to innovate, collaborate, and work flexibly to support everyone's wellbeing and deliver the best outcomes.
Key Deliverables:
In this role you will be reporting to the Chief Executive, you will be expected to:
+ Provide effective, strong, and inspirational leadership to deliver great outcomes for customers and the environment through the delivery of major infrastructure and the development of key market activities.
+ Lead Ofwat's fast growing major infrastructure projects programme including the use of direct procurement for customers and specified infrastructure projects.
+ Inspire and enable the directorate to deliver in line with our SAILOR values. Collaborate effectively with other policy areas within Ofwat (including RAPID) to ensure alignment of our approach in delivering our strategy across major projects and markets, and related work, e.g., on the price review, our wider environment work, and enforcement.
+ Work with senior colleagues to provide effective corporate leadership for the whole of Ofwat.
+ Maintain strong and effective external engagement with our stakeholders and the sector including water companies, competitive infrastructure providers, investors, business retailers and NAVs.
+ Maintain and evolve a diverse and inclusive culture within the organisation where our people are representative of the communities we serve, and everyone is valued, treated fairly, and empowered to thrive. You will also support our people to sustain a work life balance and get the best from hybrid working.
This is a wide-ranging role, and duties and responsibilities may evolve over time.
You may be offered the opportunity to join the Ofwat board., Please ensure that anything submitted as part of your application is factually accurate, and you are not presenting the ideas and experience of others, or generated by AI, as your own.

• The equal opportunities monitoring online form will not be shared with anyone involved in assessing your application. Please complete as part of the application process.

Selection process
Tony Poulter, Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the process.
The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions:
1. Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.
2. Hearing and determining appeals made by civil servants under the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values – Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty - and forms part of the relationship between civil servants and their employer.
More detailed information can be found at on the Civil Service Commission website: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
The appointment panel for this process is comprised of:
+ Tony Poulter - Civil Service Commissioner & Chair of the appointment panel
+ Iain Coucher - Ofwat, Chair
+ Alison Munro – Non-Executive Board Member
+ David Black - Chief Executive
We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates in bold below:
+ Longlist meeting: w/c 14 October 2024
+ Interviews with Saxton Bampfylde: w/c 21 October 2024
+ Shortlist meeting: w/c 28 October 2024
+ Psychological assessments: w/c 4 November 2024
+ Informal conversations with Ofwat
• : w/c 4 or w/c 11 November 2024

+ Staff engagement exercise
• : w/c 11 November 2024

+ In person Panel interviews: Tuesday 26 November 2024
+ (interviews will take place at our London office)

• A staff engagement exercise provides insights into how candidates address and interact with staff and stakeholders, across different levels and areas of interest. The process itself requires candidates to give a brief introductory presentation in response to a question (the presentation topic will be provided to candidates in advance), and then engage with a group of stakeholders and answer their questions.

Assessment process
At longlist and shortlist stage we will assess your CV and covering letter against the essential 'Experience, Skills and Knowledge' criteria listed in the professional requirements section.
During the interview process, we will assess your 'Experience, Skills and Knowledge' as well as the 'Attributes' set out in the professional requirements section:
The interview will include a short presentation. Further details will be provided to shortlisted candidates upon invitation to interview.
Our transparent interview process involves candidates receiving a list of example interview questions in advance.
Please note that interview will be conducted face to face in our London Office, 5th Floor, Westferry House, 11 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD.
At interview stage, Saxton Bampfylde will take up telephone references on the preferred candidate(s).
If you have any queries about any aspect of this role, selection process, or you require any reasonable adjustments please email Ellie.Dugdale@saxbam.com .
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Knowledge and experience of leading the economic regulation of major infrastructure and markets (or equivalent) in the public sector or in a regulated industry.
+ Strategic leadership of major work programme/s with substantial commercial risk within a broader context of delivering in the public interest.
+ Strong stakeholder management experience, influencing and communication skills with the ability to address conflicting interests.
+ Strong analytical and intellectual capability, as well as experience of working with a board and using governance arrangements effectively to challenge and evolve policies and processes.
+ Understanding and expertise in identifying and managing strategic risks for customers and the environment relating to major infrastructure or regulated markets.
+ An inclusive leadership style which inspires, motivates, and promotes collaboration to develop high performing, innovative and inclusive teams., In addition to the essential skills, knowledge and experience detailed above, we will assess you against the following attributes during the interview process. Attributes are as per Ofwat’s Framework for Success for Senior Director Grade (find out more here).
+ You champion and lead change,
+ You build the team,
+ You promote collaboration,
+ You are an adaptable thinker,
+ You create clarity; and
+ You deliver outcomes.

+ Learning and development tailored to your role
+ An environment with flexible working options
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%