Parliamentary and Public Affairs Associate

We are Ofwat, the Water Services Regulation Authority, a non-ministerial government department responsible for regulating the water sector in England and Wales.

We have an opportunity for a Parliamentary & Public Affairs Associate to join our Communications and Engagement Team within Office of the Chief Executive Directorate.

The water sector is entering a new chapter. Following the Independent Water Commission’s Final Report and subsequent White Paper - 'New Vision for Water', the UK government has set out a bold new direction - one that brings together expertise from across the sector to deliver better outcomes for customers and the environment.

Ofwat is working in collaboration with the government and other regulators to help establish a new body for England, combining our strengths with those of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, the Environment Agency, and Natural England. We’re also continuing to engage with the Welsh Government to support future decisions 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.

Job description

You will be involved in Ofwat’s busy public affairs function: building our profile, strengthening our reputation, developing proactive campaigns, and championing stakeholder engagement.

At a crucial time for the water sector, you will contribute to, and help deliver, our new public affairs strategy, building on our overall communications strategy and ensuring that we target stakeholders effectively, deliver the right messages across to the right audiences and strengthen our horizon scanning and issue management.

Key deliverables:

In this role you will be expected to:

• Work alongside the Senior Parliamentary and Public Affairs Officers and other colleagues across the organisation to help deliver public affairs and parliamentary engagement to further the aims and objectives of Ofwat.
• Assist with managing a busy portfolio of parliamentary activity, including responding to incoming enquiries, developing proactive engagement plans, and engaging with select committees and relevant APPGs.
• Assist with logistical and administrative coordination of Ofwat's public affairs function.
• Help manage the parliamentary contact database to develop Ofwat’s relationship with stakeholders.
• Actively support broader communications activities and campaigns to build understanding and advocacy for our work.
• Gather and share insights internally.
• Provide wider support to the Communications function, as required.
• Carry out additional duties and support projects appropriate for the role.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need the below essential attributes, experience, skills and knowledge:

Experience, skills and knowledge

1. Lead Criterion:Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to write clearly and concisely for a range of different channels and media.

2. Lead Criterion:Knowledge and awareness of the political landscape and ability to horizon scan and spot upcoming risks and opportunities.

3. Understanding of parliamentary procedures and stakeholder best practice.

4. Experience in assisting with the delivery of stakeholder engagement programmes.

5. Strong administration skills and excellent attention to detail.

Attributes

6. You are focused on delivering great outcomes in a dynamic environment.

7. You build trust with stakeholders internally and externally.

8. You promote collaboration.

You will also benefit from:

• Good employer pension contributions.
• 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
• Flexible working arrangements that suit your lifestyle
• Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies
• Up to 3 volunteering days per year
• Recognition vouchers scheme
• Generous shared parental leave and pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• Regular development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Season ticket loan for home-to-office travel
• Free eye tests and contribution to lenses/spectacles for VDU users

Location:Birmingham (B5 4UA) or London (E14 4HD) based with hybrid working

Length of employment: This is a fixed term appointment until end of December 2027.