Water industry regulator Ofwat is recruiting a Director of Governance, Environment and Public Value to head up its new Performance and Outcomes cluster.
The new cluster will have a specific focus on implementing Ofwat’s new strategy ‘time to act, together’ by driving improvements in company performance informed by intelligent monitoring, and developing and implementing regulatory policy through a variety of tools and relationships.
The new Director will lead the governance, environment and public value work stream with responsibility for encouraging and incentivising companies to work in the long-term interest of society and the environment.
Work on strengthening the board leadership, transparency and governance of regulated water companies in line with Ofwat’s published principles will be a key deliverable. This is to help the regulator can be sure the companies are meeting the highest standards of behaviour, reflecting their unique position as the monopoly providers of an essential service to the public. The wide-ranging role will involve cross-sector work as well as company deep dives and monitoring to assess their performance.
The new Director will take part in pre-appointment meetings for all new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) of water companies and engage directly with Non-Executive Directors.
The cluster will work on developing the concept of public value as it applies to the water sector and assessing ways to promote and incentivise this approach amongst companies. Examples cited of creating public value include using nature based solutions rather than hard infrastructure in water and wastewater treatment processes, or deciding to locate training facilities in deprived communities to stimulate local economic development.
The Director will also lead Ofwat’s programme of environmental work, alongside other regulators and UK and Welsh Governments, further developing Ofwat’s role in protecting the environment. This will include ensuring future environmental investment programmes and plans for the water sector bring forward the greatest strategic benefits and exploring how Ofwat can best use natural capital accounting methods to evaluate companies’ activities.
Experience of working in a regulated sector, either for a regulator, regulated company or policy making is a key requirement.
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