Position type: Permanent
Job reference: 476118
Location: Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working
Salary: £59,660 - £78,000
Closing date: Sunday 6th September 2026 at 23:55
Job title: Principal Economist
Join Ofwat’s Chief Economists Team as a Principal Economists
*Office Location: London (E14 4HD) or Birmingham (B5 4UA) with hybrid working*
About Us
We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.
The water sector is entering a new chapter. The government has set out a bold new direction, bringing together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment. We are collaborating with fellow regulators to respond to recommendations in The Independent Water Commission Report, the Welsh Government’s response to the Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Water Governance in Wales, and the Government’s White Paper, A new vision for water.
Ofwat is working with the government and other regulators to help create a new body for England, bringing together our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency and Natural England. We are also continuing to work with the Welsh Government to support decisions on the future arrangements for Wales.
While these changes take shape, our mission remains the same: to hold water companies to account, drive performance, and ensure the sector delivers real value for customers, communities, and the environment. If you’re passionate about making a difference, this is a unique moment to join us and help shape the future of water, and together we can continue to make a positive impact.
The Role
We are looking for a Principal Economists to join us in the Chief Economist's Team.
You will have an important and valuable contribution to enable us to deliver on our regulatory commitments for customers and the environment. This includes responsibility for leading on key areas of CET's work by providing rigorous economic thinking and advice to inform our policies and help Ofwat deliver its strategic objectives, including the transition to the new regime. You will have excellent analytical skills, significant experience in regulatory economics, and experience managing the design, development and delivery of economic projects. You will be supported by an economics director and have responsibility for managing more junior members of the team.
About You
Below are some of the key essential experience, skills & knowledge required for this post:
- Lead Criterion 1: Significant knowledge of microeconomics and regulatory economics, as well as significant experience in applying economic analysis in economic regulation and/or competition policy and an understanding of the benefits this can deliver for customers and the environment.
- Lead Criterion 2: An undergraduate degree in economics or a discipline with significant economic content.
- Experience of managing the design, development, and delivery of economic projects.
- Excellent analytical skills including experience of identifying, analysing and accurately interpreting a range of data and insights to inform evidence-based decisions and solutions on complex problems.
- Experience of building constructive working relationships and engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to understand and concisely explain complex issues in non-technical language.
Why You Should Join Us
- People Centric: Our people are at the heart of Ofwat and everything we do - we ensure all voices are heard and treat each other with respect; you'll be given the autonomy and the support to do your role in the best way.
- Innovative Work Environment: We embrace agile and new ways of working and have a culture build on trust, flexibility, and collaboration.
- Development Opportunities: Gain valuable experience and develop your skills in a supportive and dynamic setting.
- Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of working from home combined with the benefits of in person collaboration in our Birmingham and London offices.
- Excellent employer pension contributions of up to 29%.
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 with each year of service, plus bank holidays and an extra 2.5 days of privilege leave.
- Access to exclusive discounts on a variety of goods and services, including retail outlets, theatre tickets, holidays, insurance, and a gym membership.
- Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies.
- Up to 3 volunteering days per year.
- Recognition vouchers scheme rewarding your hard work.
- Generous shared parental leave and pay supporting your family life.
Follow the link to apply for full details about the role. Please ensure you have submitted your application in full before the below deadline.
Closing date: 23.55 on 06 September 2026
